Ashley Judd

Around 2007, she stayed at the Shades of Hope Treatment Center in Buffalo Gap, Texas, after she suffered from bouts of depression, sleeplessness and co-dependency.

In 2008, she supported Barack Obama in his Presidential campaign.

She was born as Ashley Tyler Ciminella in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, U.S.A. Her parents are Michael Charles Ciminella, a marketing analyst and Naomi Judd, a country music singer.

After her parents divorced in 1972, she was raised by her mother in Kentucky, where he spent much of her childhood. She also lived for a brief period in Marin County, California.

She went to many schools because her family kept moving. She attended about 13 schools including, Sayre School, Paul G. Blazer High School and Franklin High School.

She enrolled at the University of Kentucky, where she studied French, art history, anthropology, theatre and women’s studies. She went to France to major in French.

In 1993, she got her breakthrough role in the film, ‘Ruby in Paradise', which was directed by Victor Nunez. In the film, she played the title role of 'Ruby Lee Gissing'.

In 1995, she played the role of 'Charlene Shiherlis' in the Michael Mann crime film, ‘Heat’. The same year, she was seen in the films 'Smoke' and 'The Passion of Darkly Noon'.

In 1996, she played the title role as ‘Norma Jean' in the film, 'Norma Jean & Marilyn'. Subsequently, she also acted in the American crime drama film, 'Normal Life'.

In 1997, she was seen in the American crime thriller film, ‘Kiss the Girls', which was based on the novel of the same name. The same year, she also played the role of ‘Kitty’ in the film, ‘The Locusts'.

In 1998, she played the role of 'Rebecca Wenteworth' in the film 'Simon Birch'. The following year, she was seen in the films 'Double Jeopardy' and 'Eye of the Beholder'.

In 2000, she received a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for the category of 'Favourite Actress - Suspense' for the film, ' Double Jeopardy'.

In 2009, she received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky.