Annette Marie Duffy was born on December 19, 1957 in Iowa Falls, Iowa to parents, Dale and Zola Duffy. She grew up on a farm outside of Iowa Falls and after high school graduation moved to Des Moines. Annette receive a BS in Business Mgmt from Upper Iowa University. She has been performing on local stages in Des Moines as well as other stages in the Midwest since she was 13 years old. Her film debut was in the movie IOWA in which she transformed herself into a tough-loving grandma for the role of Mama.