FORM N-SAR
                                 ANNUAL REPORT
                       FOR REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES



Report for six month period ending:         /  /   (a)

                or fiscal year ending:    12/31/03 (b)

Is this a transition report? (Y/N)---------------------------------------  N

Is this an amendment to a previous filing? (Y/N)-------------------------  N

Those  items or  sub-items  with a box  "[/]"  after the item  number  should be
completed only if the answer has changed from the previous filing on this form.


1. A.  Registrant Name:   NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT
   B.  File Number:       811-3989
   C.  Telephone Number: (414)665-1800

2. A.  Street: 720 E WISCONSIN AVE
   B.  City: MILWAUKEE      C. State: WI    D. Zip Code: 53202    Zip Ext:
   E.  Foreign Country:                         Foreign Postal Code:

3. Is this the first filing on this form by Registrant? (Y/N)------------ N

4. Is this the last filing on this form by Registrant? (Y/N)------------- N

5. Is Registrant a small business investment company (SBIC)?  (Y/N)------- N [If
   answer is "Y" (Yes), complete only items 89 through 110.]

6. Is Registrant a unit investment trust (UIT)?  (Y/N)-------------------- Y [If
   answer is "Y" (Yes), complete only items 111 through 132.]


For period ending 12/31/03
File number 811-3989

UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS

111. A. [/] Depositor Name: NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
     B. [/] File Number (if any):
     C. [/] City: MILWAUKEE      State: WI    Zip Code: 53202    Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

111. A. [/] Depositor Name: NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL INVESTMENT SERVICES LLC
     B. [/] File Number (if any):  8-14088
     C. [/] City: MILWAUKEE      State: WI    Zip Code: 53202    Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

112. A. [/] Sponsor Name:
     B. [/] File Number (if any):
     C. [/] City:                State:       Zip Code:          Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

112. A. [/] Sponsor Name:
     B. [/] File Number (if any):
     C. [/] City:                State:       Zip Code:          Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

113. A. [/] Trustee Name:
     B. [/] City:                State:       Zip Code:          Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

113. A. [/] Trustee Name:
     B. [/] City:                State:       Zip Code:          Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

114. A. [/] Principal Underwriter Name: NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL INVESTMENT SVCS LLC
     B. [/] File Number: 8-14088
     C. [/] City: MILWAUKEE      State: WI    Zip Code: 53202    Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

114. A. [/] Principal Underwriter Name:
     B. [/] File Number:
     C. [/] City:                State:       Zip Code:          Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

115. A. [/] Independent Public Accountant Name:  PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
     B. [/] City:  MILWAUKEE     State: WI   Zip Code: 53202     Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:

115. A. [/] Independent Public Accountant Name:
     B. [/] City:                State:       Zip Code:          Zip Ext.:
        [/] Foreign Country:             Foreign Postal Code:



For period ending 12/31/03
File number 811-1668


116. Family of investment companies information:

     A. [/] Is Registrant part of a family of investment
            companies? (Y/N)---------------------------------------------  Y
     B.     [/]  Identify the family in 10  letters:------- NMLSFAMILY
            (NOTE: In filing this form, use this identification
             consistently for all investment companies in family.  This
             designation is for purposes of this form only.)

117. A. [/] Is Registrant a separate account of an insurance company? (Y/N) Y
     If answer is "Y" (Yes), are any of the following types of contracts
     funded by the Registrant?:
     B. [/] Variable annuity contracts? (Y/N)----------------------------  N
     C. [/] Scheduled premium variable life contracts? (Y/N)-------------  Y
     D. [/] Flexible premium variable life contracts? (Y/N)--------------  Y
     E. [/] Other types of insurance products registered under the
            Securities Act of 1933? (Y/N)--------------------------------  N

118.     [/] State the number of series  existing  at the end of the period that
         had securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933------ 6

119.     [/] State the number of new series  for which  registration  statements
         under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933  became   effective   during  the
         period---------------------------------------------------------- 0

120.     [/] State the total value of the  portfolio  securities  on the date of
         deposit for the new series included in item 119
        ($000's omitted)------------------------------------------------ $ 0

121.     [/] State the  number of series for which a current  prospectus  was in
         existence at the end of the period------------------------------ 3

122.     [/] State the number of existing series for which additional units were
         registered  under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933  during  the  current
         period---------------------------------------------------------- 6

123.     [/]  State  the  total  value of the  additional  units  considered  in
         answering item 122 ($000's omitted)-------------------------- $ 751,479

124.     [/] State the total value of units of prior  series that were placed in
         the  portfolios  of subsequent  series  during the current  period (the
         value of these  units is to be measured on the date they were placed in
         the subsequent series) ($000's omitted)------------- $ 26

125.     [/] State the total  dollar  amount of sales  loads  collected  (before
         reallowances  to other  brokers or dealers) by  Registrant's  principal
         underwriter  and any underwriter  which is an affiliated  person of the
         principal underwriter during the current period solely from the sale of
         units      of      all      series      of      Registrant      ($000's
         omitted)--------------------------------------------- $ 77,878

126.     Of the amount shown in item 125, state the total dollar amount of sales
         loads collected from secondary market operations in Registrant's  units
         (include the sales loads, if any,  collected on units of a prior series
         placed   in   the   portfolio   of  a   subsequent   series.)   ($000's
         omitted)------------------------------------- $ 0




For period ending 12/31/03
File number 811-1668


127.     List opposite the  appropriate  description  below the number of series
         whose  portfolios  are invested  primarily  (based upon a percentage of
         NAV) in each type of security  shown,  the  aggregate  total  assets at
         market  value as of a date at or near the end of the current  period of
         each such group of series and the total  income  distributions  made by
         each  such  group  of  series  during  the  current  period  (excluding
         distributions of realized gains, if any):

                                   Number of                      Total Income
                                    Series      Total Assets     Distributions
                                   Investing  ($000's omitted)  ($000's omitted)
                                   ---------  ----------------  ----------------
A. U.S. Treasury direct issue------  _____       $_________        $_________
B. U.S. Government agency----------  _____       $_________        $_________
C. State and municipal tax-free----  _____       $_________        $_________
D. Public utility debt-------------  _____       $_________        $_________
E. Brokers or dealers debt or debt
   of brokers' or dealers' parent--  _____       $_________        $_________
F. All other corporate intermed.
   & long-term debt---------------   _____       $_________        $_________
G. All other corporate short-term
   debt----------------------------  _____       $_________        $_________
H. Equity securities of brokers or
   dealers or parents of brokers or
   dealers-------------------------  _____       $_________        $_________
I. Investment company equity
   securities----------------------    1         $2,790,626        $   0
J. All other equity securities-----  _____       $_________        $_________
K. Other securities----------------  _____       $_________        $_________
L. Total assets of all series of
   registrant----------------------    1         $2,790,626        $   0


128.      [/] Is the timely  payment of  principal  and  interest  on any of the

          portfolio  securities held by any of Registrant's series at the end of
          the current  period  insured or guaranteed by an entity other than the
          issuer?  (Y/N)-----------------------------------  N [If answer is "N"
          (No), go to item 131.]

129.      [/] Is the issuer of any instrument  covered in item 128 delinquent or
          in default as to payment of  principal  or  interest at the end of the
          current  period?   (Y/N)--------------------------------------  _  [If
          answer is "N" (No), go to item 131.]

130.      [/] In  computations of NAV or offering price per unit, is any part of
          the value  attributed  to  instruments  identified in item 129 derived
          from insurance or guarantees? (Y/N)-------------------- _

131.      Total expenses incurred by all series of Registrant during the current
          reporting period ($000's omitted)-------------------- $ 13,040

132.      [/] List  the  "811"  (Investment  Company  Act of 1940)  registration
          number for all Series of  Registrant  that are being  included in this
          filing:

          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____
          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____
          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____
          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____
          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____
          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____
          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____
          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____
          811-_____    811-_____     811-_____     811-_____     811-_____