• Birthplace: Granada Hills, California, USA
• Age: 56
• Height: 170 cm
• Weight: 55 kg
• Website: N/A

The California born American Actress, Ashley Judd, is known for her versatile acting with some path-breaking roles. You can say she’s a mix of skill in genetics, as she is the daughter of Naomi Judd, a country music singer and Michael Charles Ciminella. The recipient of Golden Globe nominated actress has the credit to act in more than 20 films in her 30 year long career. Starting her acting career in 1991, she made her feature debut with small role in Kuffs, but got a major breakthrough in ‘Ruby in Paradise’ as title character.

The self-proclaimed feminist is also very much involved in humanitarian work and political inclination towards democrats.

Judd’s childhood was bit challenging as father divorced when she was just 4 year old. Mother took her back to native place in Kentucky, where she spent most of her childhood. Interestingly, she attended 13 schools before college. She joined the University of Kentucky, and majored in French and minored in art history, anthropology, women studies and theatre. Following college she reached Hollywood, where she studied with acting teacher Robert Carnegie at Playhouse West.

Judd was voted in the list of the '25 Most Intriguing People' by ‘People' magazine. She was ranked 20 for the 'Sexiest Women in the World' of the 'FHM’ magazine. In short span of time she earned her name in acting and landed some of the best movies.

Judd married Scottish racing driver Dario Franchitti in 2001. They divorced in 2013. They had no children from the marriage. She expressed her childhood and adulthood emotion in her autobiographical work titled, ‘All that is Bitter & Sweet'.

She was in acute depression in 2005-06. She joined a program at Shades of Hope Treatment Center in Buffalo Gap, Texas, in February 2006 for treatment of depression, insomnia, and co-dependency. She was in the center for 47 days. The acclaimed actress is leading a perfect public life with blend of acting and philanthropy and winning millions of hearts globally.

Here is brief of Judd’s journey covering her childhood, adulthood, career and achievements.

Childhood and Youth

Ashley Judd was born in Granada Hills, Los Angeles in 1968 found creative environment since birth as father Naomi Judd was a country music singer. Her actual name is Ashley Tyler Ciminella. However, this environment was short-lived as parents divorced in the year 1972 and her mother had to shift to back to Kentucky. Most of her childhood was spent in Kentucky. She did her schooling and college from Kentucky. She attended 13 schools including, Paul G. Blazer High School, Sayre School, and Franklin High School as her family kept moving.

She got admitted at the University of Kentucky, where she learned French and even went to France to major in French. She graduated from the UK Honors Program but did not graduate with her class. She moved to Hollywood to explore opportunities in acting.

Acting Career

Just like everyone, her acting career started small. In 1991, Judd appeared as Starfleet officer in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In between 1991 and 1994, she appeared as Reed on the NBC drama Sisters. She made her film debut in Kuffs and landed a mega role in Ruby in Paradise. The 'Ruby Lee Gissing' character established her as talented actress.

After a break of almost a year, she appeared in the Michael Mann crime thriller ‘Heat’ in 1995. In the same year, she appeared in 'Smoke' and 'The Passion of Darkly Noon'. In the following year, she acted in 'Norma Jean & Marilyn' and 'Normal Life,’ a crime drama film.

The year 1997, she landed a major role in novel adaptation of crime thriller ‘Kiss the Girls'. This was a great year for her as she acted ‘The Locusts' as Kitty. Simon Birch’, ‘Double Jeopardy’, and ‘Eye of the Beholder’ followed in 1998.

She acted in Matt Williams directed romantic drama 'Where the Heart Is' in year 2000, and in following year she acted in the film, ‘Someone Like You'.

She played the role of ‘Tina Modotti' in the biographical film ‘Frida’ in 2002 and two more films 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' and 'High Crimes'. Her role as ‘Linda Porter’ in the biographical move ‘De-Lovely’ earned her Golden Globe nomination in 2004. She appeared in ‘Twisted’ in the same year.

In the period of 2006 to 2010, she worked in several movies 'Come Early Morning', 'Bug', 'Helen’, 'India's Hidden Plague', 'Crossing Over,’ and 'Tooth Fairy.’ In year 2011, she appeared in family drama ‘Dolphin Tale’ and one other movie 'Flypaper’. She appeared in Gregory Poirier created mystery thriller TV series in 2012. And in 2013, she acted in Antoine Fuqua directed 'Olympus Has Fallen'.

Some of her recent works are ‘Divergent’, ‘The Identical’, ‘Dolphin Tale 2’, ‘Big Stone Gap’ in 2015 and The Divergent series in 2015 and 2016. She acted in ‘Trafficked’ in 2018.

Personal Life

Her personal life was more or less stable as compared to other celebrities. After a successful decade in acting, she married Dario Franchitti, a racer in the year 2001 but got divorced in the year 2013. She had to undergo treatment for depression at the Shades of Hope Treatment Center in Buffalo Gap, Texas for 47 days in 2006. Although reason of depression was not known in public, but she recovered fast and restarted her acting journey on the right foot.

She is very open about her political view and supported Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 elections. She is known for her activism and philanthropy. She is an ambassador for YouthAIDS. She actively participates in all type of women movements. She joined the Leadership Council of the International Center for Research on Women in 2011.

Judd obtained a masters degree in public administration, mid-career, from Kennedy School of Government. She published her autobiographical work titled, ‘All That Is Bitter and Sweet' in 2011.

Achievements and Awards

Judd is a role model for millions of girls in small town aspiring to be an actor. She has achieved everything possible in acting arena. She has won many awards for her acting performances. Name any award and she is there in the list of winner or nominee.

• Chicago Film Critics Association Award 1993
• Independent Spirit Award 1993
• National Society of Film Critics Award 1993 (Nominated)
• New York Film Critics Circle Awards 1993 (Nominated)
• Golden Globe Award 1995 (Nominated)
• Primetime Emmy Award 1996 (Nominated)
• Blockbuster Entertainment Award 1998 (Nominated)
• Satellite Award 1998 (Nominated)
• Blockbuster Entertainment Award 2000
• MTV Movie Award 2000 (Nominated)
• Golden Globe Award 2004 (Nominated)
• Primetime Emmy Award 2012 (Nominated)

Ashley Judd is one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood. Driven by passion to play on screen with a blend of hard work, the beautiful actress has achieved many milestones. She is role model for millions of hard working aspirants.