Ashley "Ash" Judd was born Ashley Tyler Ciminella
on April 19, 1968 in Granada Hills, California.
Her mother, the famous Naomi Judd of duo singing sensations
"The Judds" (Naomi and Wynona Judd), Naomi named Ashley
after Ashland, Kentucky, and she is an eighth-generation Kentuckian.
Her childhood was anything but stable as Ashley constantly moved,
attending twelve schools in thirteen years!
Known to be a avid fan of the University of Kentucky Wildcats
basketball team, Ashley left the university just a semester
short of her undergraduate graduation in order to start her
acting career. Nevertheless her studies rendered her fluent
in French. To this day she remains an avid fan, and constantly
tries to reference the wildcats in her films whenever possible.
For 2001's romantic comedy "Someone Like You" Ashley
used the Wildcats' cheerleaders' cheer routine, thanking them
in the credits.
In 1992 Ashley would turn down an offer for what would have
been her first big role for the film "Kuffs", opting
instead for a smaller part mainly because it required nudity.
Her response was akin to her sensitivity of her mother's opinion.
Ironically, Ashley's mother has often publicly objected to many
of Ashley's following films for the very same reason she rejected
the first; nudity...and sex, and violence, etc.
In 1999 Ashley Judd replaced originally cast star, Jodie Foster,
for the lead in the suspenseful "Double Jeopardy"
starring alongside Tommy Lee Jones..
Ashley is a self-proclaimed feminist known to support and endorse
feminist activities and organizations. She modeled her "This
is What a Feminist Looks Like" t-shirt for the Ms. Foundation
and Ms. Online, ms.magazine.com, along with the likes of other
superstars such as Whoopi Goldberg, Camryn Manheim and Margaret
Cho. In 2003 Ashley Judd would model a Hello Kitty t-shirt with
the words "Handle with Care" printed on the front so as to raise
proceeds for the Youth Aids Foundation.
With a petite stature, elegance, and bone structure that are
nothing short of striking, Ashley has been repeatedly icon-ized
for her looks. In fact, Ashley has already made the polls three
times as one of "The 50 Most Beautiful People In The World"
by People Magazine: 1996, 2000 & 2002. Many other similar awards
have been doled out in Judd's honor by various magazines and organizations
both before and after.
Ashley's recent role in 2004's TWISTED, co-starring alongside
Andy Garcia and Samuel L. Jackson, was credible, though critics
have ambiguous reviews concerning the film itself.
In 2001, Judd was married to current spouse Dario Franchitti.
Ashley Judd's other credits include:
CROSSING OVER (2008)
BUG (2006)
COME EARLY MORNING (2006)
TWISTED (2004)
DE-LOVERLY (2004)
DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD (2002)
HIGH CRIMES (2002)
SOMEONE LIKE YOU (2001)
WHERE THE HEART IS (2000)
DOUBLE
JEOPARDY (1999)
EYE
OF THE BEHOLDER (1999)
A TIME TO KILL (1996)
HEAT (1995)
NORMA JEAN & MARILYN (TV movie)
Ashely Judd in DOUBLE
JEOPARDY
