Ashley Judd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashley Judd
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Judd in 2024
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Ashley Tyler Ciminella
April 19, 1968 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Education | University of Kentucky (BA) Harvard University (MPA) |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Relatives | Wynonna Judd (half-sister) |
Ashley Judd (born Ashley Tyler Ciminella on April 19, 1968) is an American actress and activist. She comes from a family of famous performers. Her mother was the country music singer Naomi Judd, and her half-sister is country singer Wynonna Judd.
For over 30 years, Ashley has starred in movies and television shows. She is also known for her work helping people around the world and speaking up on important issues. She first appeared on TV in 1991 on Star Trek: The Next Generation and in a movie in 1992 called Kuffs.
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Early Life and Education
Ashley Judd was born in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Naomi Judd, became a famous country singer. Her father, Michael Charles Ciminella, was a marketing analyst for the horse racing business. Ashley's parents divorced when she was four years old.
After the divorce, Ashley and her mother moved to Kentucky. She spent most of her childhood there. She went to 13 different schools before college.
For college, Judd went to the University of Kentucky. She studied French and also took classes in art history, theater, and women's studies. She even spent a semester studying in France. After college, she moved to Hollywood to become an actress. She studied acting with a teacher named Robert Carnegie.
Later in her life, Judd went back to school. She finished her degree in French from the University of Kentucky in 2007. In 2010, she earned a master's degree from Harvard University.
Acting Career
Ashley Judd's acting career began in 1991. She played Ensign Robin Lefler in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She also had a recurring role on the TV show Sisters from 1991 to 1994.
Rise to Fame in the 1990s
In 1993, Judd starred in the movie Ruby in Paradise. Her performance as a young woman starting a new life earned her great reviews. This role helped launch her movie career.
Throughout the 1990s, she appeared in many popular films. She acted alongside famous stars in movies like Heat and A Time to Kill. By the end of the decade, she was a leading actress in successful thriller movies like Kiss the Girls (1997) and Double Jeopardy (1999).
Movies and Television in the 2000s
In the 2000s, Judd continued to star in movies. These included Where the Heart Is and High Crimes. In 2002, she was in the popular film Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.
In 2004, she starred as Linda Porter in the movie De-Lovely. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
In 2012, she starred in the ABC television series Missing as the main character, Rebecca Winstone.
Recent Work
Judd has stayed busy in recent years. She played the mother of the main character in the Divergent movie series. She also appeared in the family movies Dolphin Tale and its sequel, Dolphin Tale 2.
In 2019, she was in the movie A Dog's Way Home. In 2022, she appeared as herself in the film She Said. This movie told the story of journalists who uncovered mistreatment in Hollywood.
Personal Life
In 2001, Judd married Dario Franchitti, a Scottish race car driver. They divorced in 2013. They did not have children. Judd has said she feels it is important to help children who are already in need around the world.
In 2011, Judd wrote a book about her life called All That is Bitter and Sweet. In the book, she talks about her experiences and her work to help others.
In February 2021, she had a serious accident while hiking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She badly injured her leg and had to be carried for 55 hours to get to a hospital.
Judd is a fan of the University of Kentucky basketball team and often goes to their games.
Activism and Charity Work
Ashley Judd is a well-known activist. She works on issues like gender equality and the rights of women and girls. In 2016, she was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNFPA, a United Nations agency that deals with health and family issues.
She has traveled to many countries, including Jordan, Ukraine, and India, to support the agency's work. She has also worked with other groups like YouthAIDS and Women for Women International. She speaks out to raise awareness about poverty and to support people in need.
Speaking Out for Safety
Judd has bravely spoken about her own difficult experiences to help create change. In 2017, she was one of the first women to speak out against powerful movie producer Harvey Weinstein. She said he had treated her unfairly early in her career.
Her actions helped start a worldwide conversation about making workplaces safer for everyone. Because of her courage, Time magazine named her one of its "Silence Breakers" for its 2017 Person of the Year issue.
Political Interests
Judd is interested in politics and often supports candidates from the Democratic Party. She supported Barack Obama for president and has campaigned for other politicians.
She has used her voice to talk about important issues. She has spoken to Congress about the problem of "conflict minerals." These are minerals mined in war zones, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that are used to make electronics. The money from these minerals often funds violence. Judd has worked to raise awareness and find solutions to this problem.
In 2013, many people thought she might run for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky, but she decided not to. She has continued to be an active voice in politics, endorsing candidates and speaking on important topics.
Selected Filmography
Here are some of Ashley Judd's most well-known movies and TV shows.
Film
- Ruby in Paradise (1993)
- Heat (1995)
- A Time to Kill (1996)
- Kiss the Girls (1997)
- Double Jeopardy (1999)
- Where the Heart Is (2000)
- High Crimes (2002)
- De-Lovely (2004)
- Dolphin Tale (2011)
- Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
- Divergent (2014)
- A Dog's Way Home (2019)
- She Said (2022)
Television
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991)
- Sisters (1991–1994)
- Missing (2012)
- Twin Peaks (2017)
- Berlin Station (2017–2019)
See also
In Spanish: Ashley Judd para niños
