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    <submissionType>N-CEN</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
      <filer>
        <issuerCredentials>
          <cik>0000717347</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
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      <flags>
        <returnCopyFlag>false</returnCopyFlag>
        <overrideInternetFlag>false</overrideInternetFlag>
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      <investmentCompanyType>N-6</investmentCompanyType>
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    <generalInfo isReportPeriodLt12="N" reportEndingPeriod="2018-12-31"/>
    <registrantInfo>
      <registrantFullName>New England Variable Life Separate Account</registrantFullName>
      <investmentCompFileNo>811-03713</investmentCompFileNo>
      <registrantCik>0000717347</registrantCik>
      <registrantLei>54930046O2H13WQ4QQ58</registrantLei>
      <registrantstreet1>One Financial Center</registrantstreet1>
      <registrantstreet2>21st Floor</registrantstreet2>
      <registrantcity>Boston</registrantcity>
      <registrantzipCode>02111</registrantzipCode>
      <registrantstate>US-MA</registrantstate>
      <registrantcountry>US</registrantcountry>
      <registrantphoneNumber>980-365-7100</registrantphoneNumber>
      <websites>
        <website webpage="https://www.brighthousefinancial.com"/>
      </websites>
      <locationBooksRecords>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>New England Life Insurance Company</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>One Financial Center</officeAddress1>
          <officeAddress2>21st Floor</officeAddress2>
          <officeCity>Boston</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-MA" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>02111</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>980-365-7100</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Books and Records relating to the Depositor (New England Life Insurance Company) and Registrant ("New England Variable Life Separate Account").</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>New England Life Insurance Company</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>11225 North Community House Road</officeAddress1>
          <officeAddress2>N/A</officeAddress2>
          <officeCity>Charlotte</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-NC" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>28277</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>980-365-7100</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Books and Records relating to the Depositor (New England Life Insurance Company) and Registrant ("New England Variable Life Separate Account").</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>Brighthouse Securities, LLC</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>11225 North Community House Road</officeAddress1>
          <officeAddress2>N/A</officeAddress2>
          <officeCity>Charlotte</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-NC" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>28277</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>980-365-7100</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Books and Records relating to the distribution of the policies.</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>Brighthouse Financial</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>12802 Tampa Oaks Blvd</officeAddress1>
          <officeAddress2>Suite 447</officeAddress2>
          <officeCity>Temple Terrace</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-FL" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>33637</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>980-365-7100</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Books and Records, including regulatory filings, relating to the Separate Account.</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>Brighthouse Financial</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>One Financial Center</officeAddress1>
          <officeAddress2>21st Floor</officeAddress2>
          <officeCity>Boston</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-MA" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>02111</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>980-365-7100</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Regulatory filings and Records relating to the Separate Account.</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>Alliance-One Services, Inc.</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>700 Quaker Lane</officeAddress1>
          <officeAddress2>N/A</officeAddress2>
          <officeCity>Warwick</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-RI" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>02886</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>980-365-7100</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Administrative Books and Records relating to the variable life policies.</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>Metropolitan Life Insurance Company</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>700 Quaker Lane</officeAddress1>
          <officeAddress2>N/A</officeAddress2>
          <officeCity>Warwick</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-RI" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>02886</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>980-365-7100</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Administrative Books and Records relating to the variable life policies.</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>700 Quaker Lane</officeAddress1>
          <officeAddress2>N/A</officeAddress2>
          <officeCity>Warwick</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-RI" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>02886</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>980-365-7100</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Administrative Books and Records relating to the variable life policies.</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
      </locationBooksRecords>
      <isRegistrantFirstFiling>Y</isRegistrantFirstFiling>
      <isRegistrantLastFiling>N</isRegistrantLastFiling>
      <registrantFamilyInvComp familyInvCompFullName="Brighthouse Financial" isRegistrantFamilyInvComp="Y"/>
      <registrantClassificationType>N-6</registrantClassificationType>
      <isSecuritiesActRegistration>Y</isSecuritiesActRegistration>
      <chiefComplianceOfficers>
        <chiefComplianceOfficer>
          <ccoName>Jeffrey Halperin</ccoName>
          <crdNumber>002899327</crdNumber>
          <ccoStreet1>11225 North Community House Road</ccoStreet1>
          <ccoCity>Charlotte</ccoCity>
          <ccoStateCountry ccoState="US-NC" ccoCountry="US"/>
          <ccoZipCode>28277</ccoZipCode>
          <ccoPhone>XXXXXX</ccoPhone>
          <isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>N</isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>
          <ccoEmployers>
            <ccoEmployer ccoEmployerName="Brighthouse Services, LLC" ccoEmployerId="81-3094008"/>
          </ccoEmployers>
        </chiefComplianceOfficer>
      </chiefComplianceOfficers>
      <isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>N</isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>
      <isPreviousLegalProceeding>N</isPreviousLegalProceeding>
      <isPreviousProceedingTerminated>N</isPreviousProceedingTerminated>
      <isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>N</isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>
      <releaseNumbers isExemptionFromAct="Y">
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-22881"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-20005"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-19805"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-16395"/>
      </releaseNumbers>
      <principalUnderwriters>
        <principalUnderwriter>
          <principalUnderwriterName>Brighthouse Securities, LLC</principalUnderwriterName>
          <principalUnderwriterFileNumber>008-69845</principalUnderwriterFileNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>000285300</principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterLei>N/A</principalUnderwriterLei>
          <principalUnderWriterStateCountry principalUnderWriterState="US-NC" principalUnderWriterCountry="US"/>
          <isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>Y</isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>
        </principalUnderwriter>
      </principalUnderwriters>
      <isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>N</isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>
      <publicAccountants>
        <publicAccountant>
          <publicAccountantName>Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</publicAccountantName>
          <pcaobNumber>34</pcaobNumber>
          <publicAccountantLei>N/A</publicAccountantLei>
          <publicAccountantStateCountry publicAccountantState="US-NY" publicAccountantCountry="US"/>
        </publicAccountant>
      </publicAccountants>
      <isPublicAccountantChanged>N</isPublicAccountantChanged>
      <isOpinionOffered>N</isOpinionOffered>
      <isMaterialChange>N</isMaterialChange>
      <isAccountingPrincipleChange>N</isAccountingPrincipleChange>
    </registrantInfo>
    <unitInvestmentTrust>
      <depositors>
        <depositor>
          <depositorName>New England Life Insurance Company</depositorName>
          <depositorCrdNo>N/A</depositorCrdNo>
          <depositorLei>5493002GAFIYHT4M3C66</depositorLei>
          <depositorStateCountry depositorState="US-MA" depositorCountry="US"/>
          <depositorUltimateParentname>Brighthouse Financial, Inc.</depositorUltimateParentname>
        </depositor>
      </depositors>
      <uitAdmins>
        <uitAdmin>
          <uitAdminName>Alliance-One Services, Inc.</uitAdminName>
          <uitAdminLei>N/A</uitAdminLei>
          <uitAdminDescOtherNumber>N/A</uitAdminDescOtherNumber>
          <uitAdminStateCountry uitAdminState="US-RI" uitAdminCountry="US"/>
          <isUitAdminAffiliated>N</isUitAdminAffiliated>
          <isUitAdminSubAdmin>Y</isUitAdminSubAdmin>
        </uitAdmin>
        <uitAdmin>
          <uitAdminName>Metropolitan Life Insurance Company</uitAdminName>
          <uitAdminLei>N/A</uitAdminLei>
          <uitAdminDescOtherNumber>N/A</uitAdminDescOtherNumber>
          <uitAdminStateCountry uitAdminState="US-RI" uitAdminCountry="US"/>
          <isUitAdminAffiliated>N</isUitAdminAffiliated>
          <isUitAdminSubAdmin>N</isUitAdminSubAdmin>
        </uitAdmin>
        <uitAdmin>
          <uitAdminName>MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC</uitAdminName>
          <uitAdminLei>N/A</uitAdminLei>
          <uitAdminDescOtherNumber>N/A</uitAdminDescOtherNumber>
          <uitAdminStateCountry uitAdminState="US-RI" uitAdminCountry="US"/>
          <isUitAdminAffiliated>N</isUitAdminAffiliated>
          <isUitAdminSubAdmin>N</isUitAdminSubAdmin>
        </uitAdmin>
      </uitAdmins>
      <isUitAdminHiredTerminated>N</isUitAdminHiredTerminated>
      <registrantSeparateInsuranceAccount isRegistrantSeparateInsuranceAccount="Y" separateAccountSeriesId="S000004217"/>
      <numOfContracts>70118</numOfContracts>
      <contractSecurities>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Flexible Life 2002" separateAccountContractId="C000011863" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="62" separateAccountTotalAsset="286197074.15" grossPremiumReceived="20224350.81" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="15023758.20" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="3465763.00"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Survivorship Life 2002 and Zenith Survivorship Life Plus" separateAccountContractId="C000011864" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="2" separateAccountTotalAsset="174197118.49" grossPremiumReceived="568826.63" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="1993681.06" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="82660.24"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Enterprise Executive Advantage and Zenith Executive Advantage 2000" separateAccountContractId="C000011865" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="6" separateAccountTotalAsset="250580566.94" grossPremiumReceived="1705972.78" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="2269551.71" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="480941.02"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Flexible Life 2001" separateAccountContractId="C000011866" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="206" separateAccountTotalAsset="492345758.11" grossPremiumReceived="20721664.64" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="33242908.91" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="12147982.34"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Life" separateAccountContractId="C000023045" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="18" separateAccountTotalAsset="54498696.65" grossPremiumReceived="481582.98" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="6163575.56" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="1651350.00"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Life One" separateAccountContractId="C000023046" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="1" separateAccountTotalAsset="30138291.12" grossPremiumReceived="1500.00" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="2071772.97" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="47308.40"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Life Plus" separateAccountContractId="C000023047" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="108" separateAccountTotalAsset="325578404.38" grossPremiumReceived="8330659.74" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="24020254.10" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="6056000.19"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Life Plus II" separateAccountContractId="C000023048" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="157" separateAccountTotalAsset="400364814.58" grossPremiumReceived="15429616.27" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="27778966.73" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="7012881.43"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Life Executive 65" separateAccountContractId="C000023049" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="3" separateAccountTotalAsset="13277001.79" grossPremiumReceived="206909.52" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="668403.89" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="378478.49"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Survivorship Life" separateAccountContractId="C000023050" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="1" separateAccountTotalAsset="161292392.93" grossPremiumReceived="310436.56" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="1842870.87" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="444067.27"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Flexible Life" separateAccountContractId="C000023051" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="96" separateAccountTotalAsset="457604690.41" grossPremiumReceived="25115806.09" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="20977302.17" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="6728531.27"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="American Gateway Series" separateAccountContractId="C000023052" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="3" separateAccountTotalAsset="11128976.03" grossPremiumReceived="0" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="1093025.58" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="170709.36"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Zenith Variable Whole Life" separateAccountContractId="C000023053" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="8" separateAccountTotalAsset="23561665.11" grossPremiumReceived="1086048.30" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="6505513.45" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="585723.46"/>
      </contractSecurities>
      <isRule6C7Reliance>N</isRule6C7Reliance>
      <isRule11A2Reliance>Y</isRule11A2Reliance>
    </unitInvestmentTrust>
    <attachmentsTab>
      <isLegalProceedings>false</isLegalProceedings>
      <isProvisionFinancialSupport>false</isProvisionFinancialSupport>
      <isIPAReportInternalControl>false</isIPAReportInternalControl>
      <isChangeAccPrinciples>false</isChangeAccPrinciples>
      <isInfoRequiredEO>false</isInfoRequiredEO>
      <isOtherInfoRequired>false</isOtherInfoRequired>
    </attachmentsTab>
    <signature registrantSignedName="New England Variable Life Separate Account" signature="Kevin G. Finneran" title="Vice President, New England Life Insurance Company" signedDate="2019-03-15"/>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
