Natalia Podolskaya

Natalia Podolskaya is a Belarusian-born Russian singer best known for representing Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. She gained fame across Europe as the Russian singer in Eurovision 2005, where she performed the song “Nobody Hurt No One.” Her music career spans over two decades, and she remains active as a singer and media personality up to 2025. Below is a comprehensive biography of Natalia Podolskaya’s career in music and television, as well as insights into her personal life.

Early Life and Musical Start

Natalia Podolskaya was born on May 20, 1982, in Mogilev, Belarus. She started singing at a young age and studied piano as a child. In her teens, she won several music contests in Belarus and abroad. Notably, in 2002 she competed at the Slavianski Bazaar festival in Vitebsk and won awards at the Universetalent competition in Prague, earning titles for “Best Song” and “Best Performer”. That same year, she moved to Moscow to pursue music full-time. Podolskaya decided to focus on music instead of the law degree she had been pursuing, and this choice set the stage for her rise in the music industry.

Eurovision 2005 and Rise to Fame

In 2004, Natalia Podolskaya took part in Fabrika Zvyozd (Star Factory), a popular Russian TV talent show similar to Star Academy. She finished in third place on the show, gaining nationwide recognition. Earlier that year she had attempted to enter Eurovision for Belarus but did not reach the final. However, in 2005 her big break arrived – Russia selected her to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the pop-rock song “Nobody Hurt No One.” She won Russia’s national selection and went on to perform in the Eurovision final held in Kyiv. Podolskaya’s performance made her a household name in Russia. She finished 15th in the Eurovision 2005 final. 

Continued Music Career

After Eurovision, Natalia Podolskaya continued to build her musical career. She released the single “One” in 2005, whose music video reached #1 on MTV Russia’s chart. In 2006, she released another popular song, “Light a Fire in the Sky,” which also topped radio charts. Over the years, Podolskaya has released several successful albums and singles. Her debut album Pozdno (“Late”) came out in 2005, and she followed it with albums like Intuiciya (“Intuition”) in 2013, Cry in 2020, and Конечно, Да! (pronounced “Konechno, Da!”, meaning “Of Course, Yes!”) in 2023. Many of her songs became hits in Russia and neighboring countries. In 2015, Natalia Podolskaya’s popularity was affirmed when she won the prestigious Golden Gramophone Award, one of Russia’s top music prizes. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with well-known Russian artists and experimented with different musical styles (pop, rock, ballads, and even electronic music). 

Television Appearances

Besides her music, Podolskaya has been a familiar face on television. Her initial fame came from the Star Factory reality show in 2004, which was televised nationally. In later years, she returned to TV as a celebrity contestant on various programs. Notably, in 2022 she competed in the Russian edition of The Masked Singer (Маска) where she performed under the costume of “Octopus.” She reached the top ten on the show before her identity was revealed. Natalia and her husband have also appeared on game shows; for example, the couple participated multiple times in the Russian Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? charity episodes. These television appearances have helped Natalia maintain a strong public profile beyond her singing career.

Personal Life

Natalia Podolskaya’s personal life has often been in the public eye, especially due to her high-profile marriage. In 2005, she began dating Russian pop singer Vladimir Presnyakov Jr., who is the son of a famous musical family. The couple married on June 5, 2010. They have since become one of the beloved celebrity couples in Russia. Natalia and Vladimir’s first son, Artemy, was born in June 2015. Their second son, Ivan, was born in October 2020. Currently, Natalia Podolskaya lives in Moscow with her husband and children, balancing her personal life with an ongoing music career.