Duffy on receiving their award trophies at 2009 Brit awards in London, Feb. 18, 2009. [ent.sina.com]

Welsh singer Duffy dominated the Brit Awards by taking home three major prizes on a great night for female talent.

The singer, hailed as a modern-day answer to Dusty Springfield, was named best female solo artist and best breakthrough artist.

In a surprise result, she also beat established acts Coldplay and Radiohead to the award for best album with her soulful debut release, "Rockferry," the biggest-selling release of 2008.

Katy Perry on receiving their award trophies at 2009 Brit awards in London, Feb. 18, 2009. [ent.sina.com]

Often referred to as an overnight success because she shot to fame only 12 months ago, in reality the former waitress spent five years attempting to make it in the music business.

Blinking back tears, the 24-year-old said: "I just want you to know that, for the record, I travelled this whole country from Wales to London and back again a thousand times, playing my songs to old ladies. Thank you to the British public, I can't tell you what this means after five years."

Duffy grew up in Nefyn, a North Wales seaside town with no record shops, and the story goes that she based her retro sound on a tape recording of Sixties television show "Ready, Steady, Go!" belonging to her father.

She was prevented from making it a clean sweep by Girls Aloud, who beat her to the best single prize for "The Promise." This was the band's first Brit.

It was a miserable night for Coldplay, who were also nominated in four categories but won none. The band, feted at the Grammys earlier this month, were beaten to the best group award by Mercury Prize winners Elbow.

The Brits has seen its fair share of controversial moments over the years, from John Prescott being assaulted by an ice bucket to Jarvis Cocker storming the stage during a Michael Jackson performance.

Wednesday night's event at Earls Court in London was a safe affair, however, co-hosted by comedians Mathew Horne and James Corden with Kylie Minogue going through a series of outfit changes as their glamorous sidekick.