Ashley Judd - A Shining Hollywood Star and Humanitarian

Ashley Judd was destined to become a national country singer - to follow in the footsteps of her mother and sister. Instead, she chose the road to acting and soon became one of the world's leading actresses of today. She's best known for her sultry voice, big brown eyes and no-nonsense roles in films that include; Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy and Twisted.

I was first introduced to Ashley Judd onscreen while watching Kiss the Girls. She played a resident Doctor who fought back and refused to play the female victim after being kidnapped, and starred alongside Morgan Freeman. Even back then, it was clear that this was no ordinary or run of the mill actress. She had a spark, a certain kind of charm, and unbelievable talent.

Since her breakthrough onto the big screen, she has starred in over 30 movies, and a handful of TV series, including her latest show - Missing.

Not only is Ashley Judd one of the most recognizable actresses today, but she is also extremely active in both humanitarian projects and political campaigns.

• Full name: Ashley Tyler Ciminella
• Known as: Ashley Judd
• Nicknames: Ash or Sweet Pea
• Was named after Ashland, Kentucky
• Born on 19 April 1968
• From Granada Hills in California
• 5.7 feet tall
• Married to Dario Franchitti
• Her mother and sister are famous country singers - Naomi Judd and Wynonna Judd

• In 12 years, she attended 13 different schools before college
• She majored in French and minored in art history, theater, women's studies and cultural anthropology at the University of Kentucky
• In 1990, she drove cross-country from Memphis to California to purse her acting career
• In May 2007 she graduated and finished her studies at the University of Kentucky
• While studying the Sanford Meisner technique of acting at Playhouse West in Los Angeles, she worked as a waitress at the trendy 'Ivy' restaurant
• Her first role was playing Ensign Robin Lefler in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1991

• She replaced Jodie Foster as the lead in Double Jeopardy in 1999
• Her scenes from Natural Born Killers were deleted
• In The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Ashley plays both a teenager and a 30-year old woman
• She was once considered for the female lead in Million Dollar Baby
• She turned down the role of Catwoman in 2004

• Some of her hobbies include yoga, cooking, gardening, running and mountain climbing
• When she's stressed, she bakes chocolate chip cookies
• Is a self proclaimed feminist
• In 1996, 2000 and 2002 she was named as one of "The 50 Most Beautful People In The World" by People Magazine
• In 1997 she became a vegetarian after a friend told her that she was "eating the animal's fear"
• Her dog's name is Buttermilk, and her cat is named Buttercup
• Salma Hayek is a good friend
• In 2006 she entered a 47-day rehab program at a Texas Rehab center for depression
• She is married to Indy car racer, Dario Franchitti
• Was named #77 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women of the World 2006" spread

• She is a Worldwide Spokesperson for Youth AIDS International
• She visited Guatemala with Salma Hayek in May 2006 as part of a Youth/AIDS campaign
• Her travels have brought her to Cambodia, Kenya and Rwanda to help spread the awareness of AIDS among the youth
• She has met with both religious and political leaders in order to convey the message to those in power, who are able to bring about social and political change
• In 2011, she joined the Leadership Council of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
• She has filmed three award-winning documentaries for YouthAIDS which aired on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic and VH1

• Ashley was a large supporter for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008
• In 2009, she publicly condemned Sarah Palin for supporting aerial wolf hunting
• She signed the Animal Legal Defense Fund's petition in 2010, to urge Governor Steve Beshear to protect Kentucky's homeless animals through tough enforcement of the state's Humane Shelter Law
• In 2009, she was honored as the recipient of the fourth annual USA TODAY Hollywood Hero, awarded for her work with PSI (Population Services International)
• Ashley travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo in an effort to raise awareness about how conflict minerals fuel sexual violence in Congo
• She visited hospitals for victims of sexual violence, camps for displaced persons, mines and civil society organizations during her trip
• On September 30, 2010, CNN.com published an Op-ed titled "Ashley Judd: Electronics fuel unspeakable violence" by Ashley Judd
• Read her article - "Costs of Convenience"