On the 23rd June 1984, Welsh singer, songwriter and actress Duffy was born. Aimee Anne Duffy, known professionally as Duffy, released her debut album, Rockferry, in 2008, becoming the best-selling album in the United Kingdom that year, ultimately leading to worldwide attention. On top of this, it spawned the successful single "Mercy", one of the most popular song releases that year.
Duffy’s worldwide success and overall musical influence throughout the late 2000s and early 2010’s earned her the Grammy Award for ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’ for Rockferry, one of three nominations. She won three out of four Brit Awards that year, for British Breakthrough, Best British Female and Best British Album. In 2010, she made her acting debut in the film Patagonia, as well as releasing her second studio album Endlessly.
In February 2011, Duffy announced an indefinite hiatus from music. She briefly returned in 2015, appearing in the film Legend, starring Tom Hardy, and contributing three songs to its soundtrack. However, Duffy has yet to make a full return to music. In 2020, she explained her long term absence from the music industry, sharing her horrific account of being raped and abducted to a foreign country. By revealing her harrowing experiences, she aims to ‘help others who have suffered the same’ in this ‘hurting world’.
In March this year, Duffy’s new song ‘Something Beautiful’ aired across the UK.
Not only will she go down as one of the most successful Welsh singers in recent times, but Duffy is recognised across Wales as an incredible role model, demonstrating the importance of speaking out about personal issues and troubles during the darkest times in our lives.
