Welsh singer Duffy is set to break her silence on a harrowing period of her life, including her kidnapping and sexual assault, in a new feature-length documentary for Disney+.
The 41-year-old artist, whose real name is Aimee Anne Duffy, will for the first time recount her rise to fame and the traumatic events that led to her withdrawal from the public eye.
Known for her chart-topping hits “Mercy” and “Warwick Avenue”, Duffy achieved international stardom in the late 2000s with her debut album, Rockferry. Its lead single, “Mercy”, spent five weeks at number one in the UK in 2008.
She went on to release a second album, Endlessly, in 2010 before withdrawing from the public eye.
The singer revealed nearly a decade later that she had been drugged, raped and held captive.
The new documentary will chronicle the singer’s life, from her upbringing in Wales to her music career to the present, nearly 15 years after she was attacked.
The film will also include interviews with the singer’s family, friends, and close peers in the music industry.
Director Gill Callan said: “Duffy’s life has been shaped by success and fame, but equally by pain, defiance, and an irrepressible sense of self.
“I’m drawn to the tension between vulnerability and confidence in her story and how a person can be deeply affected by their experiences, yet still find a powerful, expressive voice that is unmistakably hers.”
Sean Doyle, vice president of unscripted at Disney+, added: “This film will give Duffy the chance to tell her story in her own words.
“We set out in a search for impactful, female-led stories in collaboration with Northern Ireland Screen, and it’s a privilege that Duffy’s is the first we’re able to help tell. But above all, I’m especially in awe of Duffy – for her honesty and courage to share her story.”
Duffy’s debut album Rockferry went on to win the Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal album in 2009, along with three Brit awards including Best British Female, British Breakthrough Act and British Album.
In 2010 she released her album Endlessly, featuring the song “Well Well Well”, which peaked at number nine in the UK album charts.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Duffy shared a song titled “Something Beautiful” with BBC Radio 2, however, the track was never officially released.
Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)
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