Nolwenn Leroy | |
|---|---|
 Leroy attending theNRJ Music Awards inCannes, France, on 26 January 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Nolwenn Le Magueresse (1982-09-28)28 September 1982 (age 43) Saint-Renan,Brittany, France |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | |
Partner(s) | Arnaud Clément (2008–present) |
| Website | nolwennleroy |
Nolwenn Le Magueresse (French pronunciation:[nolwɛnləmaɡəʁɛs]; born 28 September 1982), known by her stage nameNolwenn Leroy (pronounced[nolwɛnləʁwa]), is a French singer-songwriter and actress.
Originally classically trained (violin andopera singing), she rose to fame after winning the second season of the French television music competitionStar Academy in 2002. She has since recorded eight studio albums and scored two number one singles, "Cassé" and "Nolwenn Ohwo!", on the French charts.[1] In 2012, her albumBretonne was certified two times diamond for sales exceeding one million copies.[2]
Leroy is fluent inEnglish, having spent a year in the United States as an exchange student. She sings in many languages, includingFrench,Breton, English andIrish.
Leroy has received numerous awards and nominations. In January 2015, she was ranked 17th onLe Journal du Dimanche's 50 Most Loved Celebrities in France, making her the top female singer on the list since December 2012.[3][4] She was appointed an Officer of theOrder of the Arts and Letters by theFrench Ministry of Culture in 2021.[5]
Leroy was born inSaint-Renan (Finistère) in 1982. Leroy's parents left Saint-Renan when she was four years old. After living inParis,Lille, andGuingamp, her mother, Muriel Leroy, and her younger sister, Kay, settled with Leroy's grandparents inSaint-Yorre. Her mother divorced from her father, professional footballerJean-Luc Le Magueresse, in 1993.[6]
Nolwenn studied at the"Collège des Célestins" inVichy. When Leroy was eleven, her music teacher noticed her musical talents and encouraged her to learn the violin. At the age of thirteen she won"Les écoles du désert", a contest sponsored by theCora supermarket chain, which allowed her to travel with a humanitarian mission fromGao toTimbuktu,Mali; she later claimed this had a profound influence on her.[6]
In July 1998, Leroy was awarded a scholarship by the VichyRotary Club to travel toHamilton, Ohio, United States, as an exchange student. While attending Hamilton High School, she took music lessons at thePerforming Arts School and became fluent in English.[6] When she returned to France, she began classical singing classes at theVichy music conservatory. In 2001, she enrolled in theUniversity of Clermont-Ferrand to study law for a potential alternative career to music.[6]
After watching the first season ofStar Academy broadcast onTF1 in 2001, Leroy was impressed byArmande Altaï, a singing teacher and one of the show's judges. She subsequently joined Altaï's singing classes in Paris for over six months. In 2002, Nolwenn was selected for the second season of Star Academy, but she was also given the part ofScarlett O'Hara in the French stage musicalAutant en emporte le vent (Gone with the Wind) byGérard Presgurvic.[6] Leroy ended up choosing Star Academy over the musical. As a contestant on the show, Leroy spent four months in a castle located inDammarie-lès-Lys, and followed acting, dancing and singing classes. On 21 December 2002, she was declared the winner ahead of fellow finalist,Houcine Camara, earning her a record deal withUniversal Music France.
Leroy's first album,Nolwenn, was released in March 2003 and wascertified platinum by November[7] for sales exceeding 300,000 copies.[8] In 2006, the album was certified two times platinum by theSyndicat national de l'édition phonographique (SNEP) for more than 600,000 copies sold.[9] Both the album and the first single "Cassé" topped the charts in France andBelgium. Three other songs from the album were released as singles: "Une Femme cachée", "Suivre une étoile" and "Inévitablement". Leroy went on her first solo tour in France, Belgium andSwitzerland in late 2003 to promote songs from the album.
Leroy's second album,Histoires Naturelles, was released on 5 December 2005. It was produced byLaurent Voulzy and Frank Eulry. The album's lead single "Nolwenn Ohwo!", co-written byAlain Souchon, Voulzy and Leroy herself, topped the French charts one week after its release.[10] The second single was the title track, "Histoire Naturelle". Music videos were made for both songs; the video for "Histoire Naturelle" expressed the main theme of the album with Leroy being portrayed as natural history museum exhibits. Of the other single releases, "Mon Ange" was distributed digitally while "J'aimais tant l'aimer" and "Reste Encore" were promotional-only. The album reached platinum status[11] with sales exceeding 400,000 copies.[12] Leroy performed songs from bothHistoires Naturelles andNolwenn on her second solo tour, which started in September 2006. Leroy's first live album,Histoires Naturelles Tour, was subsequently released in late October 2007.
Le Cheshire Cat & Moi was a project that began in 2007, co-written by Leroy andTeitur Lassen, with contributions fromJonatha Brooke,Michelle Featherstone,Mike Errico andRupert Hine. It was arranged and produced by Lassen, and recorded in Sweden and theFaroe Islands. The album's lead single, "Faut-il, faut-il pas ?", was released in November 2009 along with a music video directed byYoann Lemoine.[13] With the album, Leroy presented "a lighter sound than on previous releases"[14] and she was given the opportunity to write all the lyrics.[6] The album was released on 7 December 2009 and was later certified gold.[15] A tour entitled "Le Cheshire Cat & Vous" to promote the record was held in 2010.
Leroy released a fourth studio album,Bretonne, on 6 December 2010. Cover versions of traditionalCeltic songs such as "Mná na h-Éireann", "Tri Martolod", "La Jument de Michao", and contemporary songs such asChristophe Miossec's "Brest" were included on the album. Most of the songs related toBrittany, the singer's birthplace. Four of them were sung inBreton ("Tri Martolod", "Suite Sudarmoricaine", "Bro Gozh ma Zadoù", "Karantez Vro"), one in Irish ("Mná na h-Éireann"), and the rest in French and English. Leroy collaborated withJon Kelly for the musical arrangements.[16] The album topped theFrench album charts for 7 weeks and the Belgian album charts for 5 weeks. It was certified double diamond[17] by theSNEP for sales exceeding one million copies.[2]
The album was re-released in November 2011 as aDeluxe Edition with 7 additional tracks in English, including "Amazing Grace", "Scarborough Fair" and twoMike Oldfield tracks, "Moonlight Shadow" and "To France". The American version of the album, retitledNolwenn, was released on 8 January 2013 with a different track listing. The album peaked at number 10 on theBillboard's World Album chart.[18] Leroy made her New York City debut at Drom.[19]
As part of the Bretonne Tour, Leroy played over 100 dates[20] in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. In June 2012, she performed as a special guest withThe Chieftains in Paris.[21]
Leroy's fifth album,Ô filles de l'eau [fr], was released on 26 November 2012, preceded by the lead single "Juste pour me souvenir". The album was produced byJon Kelly and recorded in London. The title reads 'O Daughters of the Water' but is phonetically similar to 'au fil de l'eau' ('with the current/flow'). LikeBretonne, it contains Celtic inspired music but with more ocean themed lyrics. It includes two tracks in English ("Homeland" and "Limitless"). "Homeland" contains theJames Horner composed theme of the filmBraveheart. "Ahès" is the onlyBreton-language song of the album. Leroy wrote and co-composed 9 songs, including the singles "Juste pour me souvenir", "Sixième continent", "J'ai volé le lit de la mer" and "Ophélia".[22] The album cover was created by Australian artist Vee Speers, inspired by her portrait series,Immortal.[23] Reviews of the album were strong, with some praising Leroy's vocal ability and Celtic music and lyrics, noting that her singing in English and Breton was brave and proved her to be an evolving artist, with strong sales to match. Two months after its release, the album was certified triple platinum by theSNEP.[24][25] Furthermore, it was namedRTL's Album of the Year 2013.[26]
In 2013, Leroy toured France, Belgium and Switzerland in support of the album. Additionally, she was a special guest soloist onVladimir Cosma's symphonic tour in France.[27] In early 2014, she was nominated at theWorld Music Awards for the first time, in four categories: World's Best Album (Bretonne), World's Best Entertainer, World's Best Female Artist, and World's Best Live Act.[28]
In 2014, she provided several songs in English and French for theAcademy Awards-nominated animated filmSong of the Sea, and voiced the character of Bronagh in the film's French version.[29][30]On 3 May 2014, Leroy performed theBreton anthem "Bro Gozh ma Zadoù" at theStade de France before 80,000 spectators, for the2014 Coupe de France Final (aired onFrance 2) opposing two Breton clubs, theStade Rennais toEA Guingamp.[31]
Leroy's second live CD/DVD,Ô Tour de L'Eau, recorded inSaint-Brieuc, was released on 1 December 2014.[32] In March 2015, she embarked on an acoustic tour in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany,New Caledonia andFrench Polynesia.
On 11 June 2015, she was invited to talk about her career atOxford University.[33] In November 2015, Leroy announced that she would perform atCeltic Connections inGlasgow's City Halls on 30 January 2016, along withKaren Matheson.[34]
On 13 May 2017, Leroy released "Gemme", the eponymous lead single from her sixth studio albumGemme (English:Gem) produced in London by Jamie Ellis.[35] The album was released on 1 September 2017.[36] Leroy wrote and co-composed most of the songs. The album features three songs in English: "Run It Down" and two poems byEdgar Allan Poe set to music ("A Dream" and "The Lake").[37] The other songs are in French. "Stephen" refers to a theory byStephen Hawking.[38] The album was certified gold in France.[39] A Limited Edition was released on 8 December 2017, including two remixes and two acoustic versions.[40] In March 2018, Leroy embarked on the 55-date Gemme Tour through France, Belgium and Switzerland.[41]
On 2 November 2018, Leroy released a seventh album titledFolk, produced byClément Ducol. The album consisted of covers ofcontemporary folk songs, includingGraeme Allwright's French adaptation ofSuzanne byLeonard Cohen.[42] In March 2019, Leroy embarked on the Folk Tour through France and Belgium. In July 2019, she was a special guest atPink Martini's concert atJazz à Juan festival.[43]
On 2 July 2021, Leroy released the lead single "Brésil, Finistère" from her eighth studio albumLa Cavale. The album was produced byBenjamin Biolay and released on 12 November 2021. Biolay wrote and composed most of the songs.[44][45] The second single, "Loin", was released in December 2021.[46]
In January 2022, it was announced that Nolwenn would joinThe Voice France as a surprise comeback stage coach for its eleventh season.[47] In 2023, she was a coach onThe Voice Kids and a member of the jury of theMiss France 2024 contest.[48][49]
In 2024, she starred in the miniseriesBrocéliande, a thriller in six episodes forTF1 directed by Bruno Garcia.[50][51] The first episode premiered at theCanneseries festival.[52] She won the Audience Choice Award for Best Actress at the Festival de la Fiction in September 2025.[53]
Leroy's music was studied for its neurological impact ingeriatric populations.[54][55][56] Researchers found that Leroy's recordings might have a more beneficial effect than other music, noting that: "the music of Nolwenn Leroy was found to be significantly superior to other music tested". To describe the phenomenon they coined the termthe Nolwenn Effect, saying: "the music of Nolwenn Leroy appears to have a different effect on brain-based modulation of gait and stance than other music tested to date".
Mozart and Dutch and French singers were tested; only Mozart and Leroy's music were specified. The U.S. study was completed in February 2008, but no substantial results appear to be published.[57]
In 2011, Leroy appeared in two television commercials for theNintendo 3DS and she became the face ofPantene for France[58] and Belgium.[59]
In 2006, she joinedLes Enfoirés charity ensemble and she became godmother of the association La Fondation pour le Logement des Défavorisés (for housing people in need).[60]
In Brittany, she is the sponsor of the operation “Give an Orchid for memory! » which will be held in differentE. Leclerc stores in 2013 for the benefit of research against Alzheimer's disease.[61]
On 27 November 2015, she participated together withCamélia Jordana andYael Naim at the national memorial day for the victims of theNovember 2015 Paris attacks singing the song "Quand on n'a que l'amour" fromJacques Brel.[62]
Since 2008, she has been in a relationship withArnaud Clément, former French professional tennis player and captain of the France Davis Cup team.[63]
On 12 July 2017, they welcomed their first child, a son called Marin.[64]
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Sales | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [65] | BEL (Wa) [65] | SWI [65] | GER [66] | QC(Fr) [67] | US (World) [18] | KOR [68] | KOR (Int) [69] | ||||||||
| 2003 | Nolwenn | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 600,000[9] | |||||
| 2005 | Histoires Naturelles | 3 | 7 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | 400,000[12] | |||||
| 2009 | Le Cheshire Cat et moi | 26 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 50,000[73] | ||||
| 2010 | Bretonne(US title:Nolwenn) | 1 | 1 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 34 | 9 | 1,200,000[75] | |||||
| 2012 | Ô Filles de l'Eau | 5 | 5 | 35 | 60 | — | — | — | — | 350,000[77] | |||||
| 2017 | Gemme | 3 | 3 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |||||
| 2018 | Folk | 6 [79] | 5 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |||||
| 2021 | La Cavale | 8 | 7 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA | BEL (Wa) | SWI | GER | ||||||||||
| 2007 | Histoires Naturelles Tour | 25 | 21 | — | — | ||||||||
| 2014 | Ô Tour de l'Eau | 26 | 36 | — | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [1] | BEL (Wa) [81] | SWI [82] | |||||||||||
| 2003 | "Cassé" | 1 | 1 | 4 | Nolwenn | ||||||||
| "Une Femme Cachée" | 40 | 23 | 78 | ||||||||||
| "Suivre Une Étoile" | 12 | 24 | 44 | ||||||||||
| 2004 | "Inévitablement" | 31 | 26 | — | |||||||||
| 2006 | "Nolwenn Ohwo !" | 1 | 3 | 29 | Histoires Naturelles | ||||||||
| "Histoire Naturelle" | 30 | 39 | — | ||||||||||
| "Mon Ange" | 14[a] | 6* | — | ||||||||||
| 2007 | "J'aimais Tant L'Aimer" | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "Reste Encore" | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 2009 | "Faut-il, Faut-il Pas ?" | — | 6* | — | Le Cheshire Cat et moi | ||||||||
| 2010 | "Textile Schizophrénie" | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "Suite Sudarmoricaine" | — | 19* | — | Bretonne | |||||||||
| "Mná na h-Éireann" | — | 25* | — | ||||||||||
| "La Jument de Michao" | 36 | 13 | — | ||||||||||
| 2011 | "Tri Martolod" | 51 | 29 | — | |||||||||
| "Brest" | — | 42 | — | ||||||||||
| "Moonlight Shadow" | 48 | 32 | — | Bretonne (Deluxe Edition) | |||||||||
| 2012 | "Juste pour me souvenir" | 43 | 13 | — | Ô Filles de l'Eau | ||||||||
| 2013 | "Sixième continent" | — | 11* | — | |||||||||
| "J'ai volé le lit de la mer" | — | 4* | — | ||||||||||
| 2014 | "Ophélia" (Live) | — | 12* | — | Ô Tour de l'eau | ||||||||
| 2017 | "Gemme" | 28 [84] | 7* | — | Gemme | ||||||||
| "Bien plus précieux" | 91 [85] | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Ce que je suis" | 95 [86] | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Trace ton chemin" | — | 4* | — | ||||||||||
| 2021 | "Brésil, Finistère" | — | 45 | — | La cavale[45] | ||||||||
| "Loin" | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
* Belgium Ultratip[87]
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [1] | |||
| 2017 | "Quelque chose de Tennessee" | 96 [88] | On a tous quelque chose de Johnny |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2003 | "Cassé" |
| "Une femme cachée" | |
| "Suivre une étoile" | |
| 2004 | "Inévitablement" |
| "Le dernier mot" | |
| 2005 | "Nolwenn Ohwo !" |
| 2006 | "Histoire Naturelle" |
| "Mon Ange" | |
| 2009 | "Faut-il, faut-il pas ?" |
| 2010 | "Mná na h-Éireann" (Women of Ireland) |
| "La Jument de Michao" | |
| 2011 | "Tri Martolod" |
| 2012 | "Juste pour me souvenir" |
| 2013 | "Sixième continent" |
| 2017 | "Gemme" |
| 2021 | "Brésil, Finistère" |
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions[1] | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA | BEL (Wa) | SWI | |||
| 2014 | "La ballade nord-irlandaise" | 142 | — | — | La Bande à Renaud |
| 2016 | "Un enfant assis attend la pluie" | 135 | — | — | Balavoine(s) |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA | BEL (Wa) | SWI | |||
| 2007 | "Aimer à perdre la raison" (withLes Enfoirés) | — | 22 | — | La Caravane des Enfoirés |
| "L'amitié" (withLes Enfoirés) | — | 7 | — | Les secrets des Enfoirés | |
| 2012 | "Without You" (withLes Enfoirés) | 91 | 49 | — | Le bal des Enfoirés |
| "Attention au départ" (withLes Enfoirés) | 5 | 3 | 49 | La boîte à musique des Enfoirés | |
| 2013 | "Jeanne" (withLes Enfoirés) | 44 | 25 | — | |
| 2014 | "Laissez-nous chanter" (withLes Enfoirés) | 196 | — | — | Bon anniversaire les Enfoirés |
| "Dès que le vent soufflera" (collective) | 96 | 14* | — | La Bande à Renaud | |
| "Lucie" (duet withFrancis Cabrel) | 193 | — | — | Kiss & Love | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||
Leroy owns a horse named El Aberkan. She showed her horse riding and jumping skills on unfamiliar horses a couple of times for French TV shows broadcast onFrance 2, including the 50th Gala de l'Union des Artistes charity in 2011, alongside Alexis Gruss.[94]
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Breakthrough of the Year | Won |
| 2006 | Étoiles Chérie FM | Étoile de la Sensibilité | Won |
| Étoile Chérie FM | Won | ||
| Song of the Year forMon Ange | Won | ||
| 2007 | Female Artist of the Year | Won | |
| France Bleu Talents | Audience Choice Prize | Won | |
| 2010 | Le Télégramme | Grand Prix du Disque forBretonne | Won |
| 2011 | Breton of the Year | Won | |
| Planète Musique Mag (France 2) | Planète Musique Mag d'or | Won | |
| RTL –Metronews | RTL Album of the Year forBretonne | Nominated | |
| RTL –Le Parisien | Person of the Year | Won | |
| 2012 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Francophone Song of the Year forTri martolod | Nominated | ||
| Best-selling Francophone Album of the Year forBretonne | Won | ||
| Victoires de la Musique | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated[95] | |
| Globes de Cristal Award | Best Female Act | Nominated | |
| Bro Gozh ma Zadoù | Prix Bro Gozh ma Zadoù | Won | |
| 2013 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Globes de Cristal Award | Best Female Act | Nominated | |
| Grands Prix de l'UNAC (National union of songwriters and composers) | Grand Prix de l'UNAC for the songJuste pour me souvenir | Won | |
| RTL –Metronews | RTL Album of the Year forÔ filles de l'eau | Won | |
| 2014 | World Music Awards | World's Best Album forBretonne | Nominated |
| World's Best Entertainer | Nominated | ||
| World's Best Female Artist | Nominated | ||
| World's Best Live Act | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Female Artist of the Year | Nominated[96] |
| RTL | RTL Album of the Year forGemme | Nominated[97] | |
| 2018 | Globes de Cristal Award | Best Female Act | Nominated[98] |
| 2022 | RTL | RTL Album of the Year forLa Cavale | Nominated[99] |
| 2025 | Festival de la Fiction - Télé-Loisirs | Audience Choice Award for Best Actress forBrocéliande | Won[53] |
Officer of theOrdre des Arts et des Lettres (2021).[5]
Themain belt asteroid353232 Nolwenn was named after Leroy.[100]
In 2012, her wax figure was unveiled at theMusée Grévin in Paris.[101]
| Preceded by | Winner of Star Academy France 2002 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |