Anette Støvelbæk grew up on Amager as the daughter of social worker and a speech therapist. After a year at the Jester's School and other acting courses, she went on to be educated at the Actors' School at Odense Theatre in 1997 .

As the clumsy baker Olympia in Lone Scherfig's Dogme comedy Italian for Beginners (2000), Anette Støvelbæk has her own face to an eminent degree. However, her talent is not limited to comedy. She first showed her unconventional beauty as a grieving mother in several episodes of the TV series Strisser på Samsø (1997-98). She is Martine Naur in TV2's Morten Korch (1999-2000), a frustrated bride at Stillebækgård.