Marina Łuczenko-Szczęsna, known mononymously as Marina, is a Polish singer, songwriter and actress. She is married to Polish footballer Wojciech Szczęsny.
Biography
1989–2008: Early life and career beginnings
Marina Łuczenko was born in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. At the age of two, she moved with her family to Poland. As a child, Marina took part in numerous singing contests and television music competitions, winning on many occasions. She began her professional career in 2000, appearing in Waldemar Krzysteks television playBallada o zabójcach. She competed in Poland's national final for the inaugural Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "Sen". In 2004, Marina played the lead role of Juliet in Studio Buffo Theatres adaptation of Romeo and Juliet directed by Janusz Józefowicz. In 2007, she took part in New Wave competition and came third. She was awarded $20 000 and was offered a record deal with Universal Music Germany, which she rejected as she did not agree to its terms. She also received a special prize of $50 000 from one of the competition's organisers Alla Pugacheva. In 2008, Marina participated in the seventh season of the Polish version of Dancing with the Stars franchise called . She was partnered with the professional dancer Michał Uryniuk, with whom she finished 10th.
2009–2012: Breakthrough: ''39 i pół'', "Glam Pop", and ''Hardbeat''
In 2009, Marina was cast as Amanda, the daughter of the main character, in the Polish television series 39 i pół. She recorded four songs for its soundtrack 39 i pół Vol. 3. Her debut single, "Glam Pop", was released in 2010 and became a commercial success in Poland. That year, she received Eska Music Award for Best Debut. She also released her second single "Pepper Mint" and guest starred in the Polish television series Usta usta. After parting ways with her manager Maja Sablewska in 2011, she began recording new material for her debut studio album. Hardbeat, her first studio album, which she released independently in November 2011, received positive reviews from music critics. It was preceded by the lead single "Electric Bass", released the previous month. The album's second and final single "Saturday Night" followed in 2012. Marina was nominated for VIVA Comet Awards in 2011 and 2012, receiving a total of six nominations, including one for Female Artist of the Year and one for Album of the Year. In 2012, she was confirmed as Levi's autumn-winter 2012/2013 face in Poland.
2013–present: Hiatus, ''On My Way'' and ''39 i pół tygodnia''
In October 2013, whilst working on new music in a recording studio in London, Marina experienced singing difficulties which proved to be caused by a polyp on her left vocal cord. As a result, she was forced to put her career on hold, and in May 2014 underwent laser microsurgery performed by Steven M. Zeitels to remove the polyp. Marina's comeback single and the lead single from her second studio album, "On My Way", was released in April 2016. The song was co-written by Arrow Benjamin and produced by Pete Boxta. That year, she also featured on James Arthurs song "Let Me Love the Lonely" from his second studio album Back from the Edge. Released as a single in Poland, it was certified double platinum by the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Marina released her second studio album On My Way on 17 November 2017. The album features ten tracks in English, including a song written by her husband Wojciech Szczęsny and a song co-written with James Arthur. "Takin' Ya Rock Out" and "Hiding in the Water" served as the album's second and third singles, respectively. Its fourth and final single, "Complete", was released in August 2018. Marina reprised her 39 i pół role in the show's revival called 39 i pół tygodnia in September 2019. She released the single "News", featuring Kabe that November.
Personal life
Marina started dating Polish national football player Wojciech Szczęsny in 2013. They got engaged in early July 2015 during her birthday party, and married on 21 May 2016. On 30 June 2018, she gave birth to their son, Liam.
