Exhibit C(1)

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting part of
this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-6
(the "Registration Statement") of our report dated January 26, 1998, relating to
the financial statements of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and
of our report dated January 27, 1998, relating to the financial statements of
Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account, which appear in such Prospectus. We
also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such
Prospectus.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
October 30, 1998