Linda Wagenmakers

Linda Wagenmakers (born 30 November 1975) is a Dutch singer and musical actress who has been active in music and theater since the mid-1990s. She gained national fame with a breakout role in the musical Miss Saigon and later reached a broader audience representing the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. Over the years, Wagenmakers has starred in numerous Dutch stage productions, voiced characters in Disney films, appeared on television, and become a respected vocal coach. Her career spans from major theater roles to voice acting, and she continues to perform and mentor new talent to this day.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Linda Wagenmakers was born in Arnhem and raised in a musical family. Shebegan singing in church and school musicals as a child, and she took vocal lessons in her teens to hone her talent. While studying law at Utrecht University, her passion for performing led her to audition for Miss Saigon. At 21, she won the lead role of Kim in the Dutch production of Miss Saigon. 

Breakthrough in Musical Theater

Miss Saigon proved to be Wagenmakers’s big break, establishing her as a leading lady in Dutch musical theater. She soon seized new opportunities by joining the parody musical Rocky over the Rainbow. Linda played roles inspired by The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Wizard of Oz). In 2002, she was featured in the inaugural Musicals in Ahoy concert, where she impressed audiences singing songs from Miss Saigon and Les Misérables. 

Notable Stage Performances

In the years after her Eurovision appearance, Linda Wagenmakers continued to shine on stage with a variety of roles in Dutch and international productions. In 2009–2010, she headlined Hans & Grietje (Hansel and Gretel) as the candy-house witch Caramella. She co-wrote the script of this family musical while her husband composed the songs. Wagenmakers also wowed audiences as the Lady of the Lake in Monty Python’s Spamalot (2011), and took on a lead role in The Witches of Eastwick (2013). In 2025, she joined a new production of The Wiz, playing the villainous witch Sadista.

Eurovision Song Contest 2000

One of Wagenmakers’s most high-profile moments came at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. After winning the Dutch national selection, she represented the Netherlands at Eurovision in Stockholm. Her entry was the upbeat pop song “No Goodbyes,” performed with a dramatic black-and-white gown designed by Jan Aarntzen. Wagenmakers finished 13th in the final. “No Goodbyes” also became a Top 10 hit on the Dutch charts after the contest.

Television and Other Media

Linda Wagenmakers has also been active on television. In 1999–2000 she played Keela Bangor in the RTL 4 drama series Westenwind, and she sang its title song “Laat me vrij om te gaan”. She also hosted various TV programs and made occasional comedy sketch appearances. In addition, she ventured into reality TV. She joined the celebrity weight-loss show De Afvallers met Sterren in 2007, took part in the game show De Alleskunner VIPS in 2022 (returning in 2025), and even braved the survival adventure Expeditie Robinson in 2025. Wagenmakers has also been a host of the Eurovision in Concert event in Amsterdam.

Voice Acting Work

Wagenmakers built a parallel career as a voice actress in Dutch-language versions of animated films. She provided the Dutch voice for Fa Mulan in Disney’s Mulan (1998) and its sequel, and later voiced Princess Tiana in The Princess and the Frog (2009). Linda has since continued to work in voice acting, voicing characters in various animated series and films, from the Winx Club franchise to Pixar’s Turning Red in 2022. These roles showcased her vocal range beyond the stage.

Vocal Coach and Mentor

By the 2010s, Linda Wagenmakers began sharing her expertise as a vocal coach alongside her performances. She taught in musical theater workshops and helped train aspiring singers in proper technique and stage presence. In 2020, she launched her own coaching company, Phoenix Vocal Coaching, based in Arnhem. Through this platform she mentors new singing talent, emphasizing vocal technique and confidence with an encouraging approach.

Personal Life

Wagenmakers is married to a musician and composer who co-wrote songs for Hans & Grietje with her. She credits her Christian upbringing for instilling her love of music. Despite her success, she keeps her family life private. Linda Wagenmakers continues to live in the Netherlands and remains active on stage and as a mentor to young artists.