 Diamandis was born in Brynmawr in Wales , and grew up in the nearby village of Pandy . She has one older sister , Lafina Diamandis . Their Welsh mother and Greek father met at university in Newcastle @-@ upon @-@ Tyne , and divorced when Marina was four . Following the divorce , her father returned to Greece but would visit on occasion , while Marina lived in a bungalow with her mother , sharing a bedroom with her sister ; she described her childhood as " simple and idyllic , " as well as " peaceful , very normal , poor . " 
