Marie N

Marie N (born Marija Naumova, 23 June 1973) is a Latvian singer and entertainer best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. She performs a broad range of music from pop to jazz and musical theatre. Over her career, she has released several albums in multiple languages and appeared in musical theatre and television. 

Early Career and Discovery

Marie N’s musical career began in the mid-1990s. Renowned Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls discovered her in 1994, kickstarting her path in show business. By 1995, she was participating in many music festivals and competitions for young singers. She gained recognition on Latvian television talent shows and stage performances. In 1997, Marie N drew praise for playing the lead role in a locally produced musical Carrie. The same year, she performed in a concert celebrating the 100th birthday of George Gershwin. 

Her recording career started before the new millennium. In 1998, she signed her first recording contract and released her debut album, a collection of songs by Raimonds Pauls sung entirely in Russian. This first album, titled Do svetlyh slëz (To Bright Tears), came out in 1999. Shortly after, Marie N released her first Latvian-language album Ieskaties acīs (“Look Into My Eyes”) in 2000. This became a major success. It earned a Gold certification within two weeks and went Platinum within a year in Latvia.

Eurovision Song Contest 2002 

Marie N’s journey to Eurovision was marked by persistence. She first attempted to represent Latvia when the country debuted in Eurovision in 2000. Her song “For You My Friends” finished as the runner-up in the national final. The next year, she tried again with the upbeat song “Hey Boy Follow Me” in 2001. That entry was the public’s favorite, but it ultimately wasn’t selected by the jury. Despite these setbacks, Marie N continued to grow in popularity thanks to her engaging performances and hit albums, including a French-language album Ma Voix, Ma Voie in 2001.

Her determination paid off in 2002. Marie N was chosen to represent Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with her self-composed song “I Wanna”. At the contest in Tallinn, Estonia, she delivered an energetic performance featuring an eye-catching dance routine with quick costume changes. “I Wanna” earned 176 points and Marie N emerged as the winner of Eurovision 2002. Marie N’s triumph on the Eurovision stage brought her widespread fame across Europe. Her winning song “I Wanna” was released internationally in many countries following the contest. She appeared on numerous TV shows, radio programs, and concerts throughout Europe in the aftermath of her win.

Music Releases and Eurovision Hosting

After her Eurovision success, Marie N kept up the momentum in her music career. In November 2002 she released a new studio album titled On a Journey (in English), followed by a Latvian-language version Noslēpumi (“Secrets”) in December. These albums showcased her lyrical and musical range. Marie N introduced the new songs through a concert tour across Latvia in early 2003. During this time, she also made numerous guest appearances at other countries’ Eurovision national selection shows, becoming a familiar face to Eurovision fans beyond her home country. In March 2003, a special single “Realise” and the On a Journey album were even released in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland through BMG to capitalize on her Eurovision fame.

In May 2003, Marie N took on a new role in television. Along with Renārs Kaupers (lead singer of Brainstorm), she co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 in Riga, Latvia. During the show’s interval, Marie N premiered the music video for her new song “I Feel Good” to the international audience. By the end of 2003, Marie N further expanded her discography: in December, she released another album called On My Own, which featured songs in multiple languages (Latvian, French, English, and Portuguese) and included both original songs and cover versions of famous tunes. This period solidified Marie N’s status as one of Latvia’s leading music stars.

Theatre and Stage Performances

In addition to pop music, Marie N has had significant accomplishments in musical theatre. In 2004, she successfully combined her singing and acting talents by starring in the lead role of the classic musical The Sound of Music in a Latvian production. She portrayed Maria (the main character) on stage, earning positive reviews for her performance. This was not her first stage role. As noted, she had earlier stage experience with the musical Carrie. However, The Sound of Music brought her theatrical career to a new level of prominence.

Marie N continued to explore theatre in the following years. In early 2008, she took on the role of Fantine in a production of Les Misérables in Riga. This role allowed her to demonstrate her abilities as a singing actress in one of the world’s most famous musicals. Critics and audiences praised her vocal strength and emotional portrayal of Fantine. Throughout these years, Marie N often participated in live concerts and charity events, using her voice not only for entertainment but also for goodwill. For example, she has been involved in charity projects for children and was the initiator of events like “Children’s Capital 2007,” a festival for youth in Riga.

Later Career and Television Work

As her career progressed, Marie N expanded into different areas of the entertainment industry. In 2005, she earned a law degree and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Latvia, reflecting her involvement in humanitarian efforts. She also founded MarieN Studio in 2005, a non-profit studio offering dance and vocal classes to children and adults, with a mission to help underprivileged youth access the arts. Meanwhile, Marie N continued to release music: she put out the album Nesauciet sev līdzi in 2004 and a compilation album Another Dream in 2005. In 2010, she even released a special album of lullabies, showing her range of musical projects.

Marie N also remained a familiar face on television. In 2007, she competed in the popular TV dance competition “Dancing with the Stars” (Latvia’s version of the show). Additionally, Marie N has occasionally been involved with Eurovision in other capacities over the years. She has served as a juror or guest judge in Eurovision selection events – for instance, she was invited as a jury member for Greece’s national final in 2003. Later, she was a guest juror during the final of Latvia’s Supernova 2017 selection, helping to choose the country’s Eurovision entry. 

After a brief hiatus from the music scene in the early 2010s to focus on family life, Marie N made a comeback in 2016 with a new album titled Uz Ilūziju Tilta (“On the Bridge of Illusion”). In recent years, she continues to appear at special events and on television. Notably, in 2025 Marija Naumova joined the Latvian commentary team for Eurovision, providing commentary for the Grand Final broadcast on LTV, the national broadcaster.