FORM N-SAR
                                 ANNUAL REPORT
                       FOR REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES



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

             or fiscal year ending:       12/31/08 (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)271-1444

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 12/31/08
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:
     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:

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








For period ending 12/31/08
File number 811-3989

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 12/31/08
File number 811-3989

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------------------------------ 4








For period ending 12/31/08
File number 811-3989

122. [/] State the number of existing series for which additional units
         were registered under the Securities Act of 1933 during the
         current period-------------------------------------------------- 4

123. [/] State the total value of the additional units considered in
         answering item 122 ($000's omitted)--------------------- $ 558,846

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)------------------ $ 0

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)---- $ 33,276

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

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----------------------  _____       $_________        $_________
J. All other equity securities-----  6           $                 $
K. Other securities----------------  _____       $3,361,436        $   76,981
L. Total assets of all series of
   registrant----------------------  6           $3,361,436        $   76,981




For period ending 12/31/08
File number 811-3989

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)---------------------------- $ 18,659

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-_____





This report is signed on behalf of the registrant in the city of Milwaukee and
the state of Wisconsin on the 26th day of February, 2009.


Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account (Registrant)
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (Depositor)



/s/ Barbara E. Courtney
Barbara E. Courtney
Director, Mutual Fund Accounting


Witness:

/s/Linda L. Wisniewski
Linda L. Wisniewski
Senior Mutual Fund Specialist