Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd at the ABC’s Missing @ The Paley Center 2012. Author Genevieve. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd, also known as Ashley Tyler Ciminella and Ash Sweet Pea, is an author, actor, and social justice humanitarian. She is a leader of the #metoo movement and a founding member of Time’s Up. She serves as global goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund. As a UN Global Ambassador, she has visited grassroots programs in 22 countries around the world, spending time with marginalized communities in fragile settings such as war zones, refugee camps, slums, brothels, hospices and orphanages.

She also serves on numerous advisory boards, including the International Center for Research on Women, Apne Aap Worldwide, Demand Abolition, and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. She is also chairperson of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project: Curbing Abuse, Expanding Freedom.

Apart from being an accomplished actress, Judd is also a political activist. Since Harvey Weinstein, a former film producer, co-founder of Miramax, and sex offender, was exposed, Judd has been a loud celebrity. It was Judd who brought it to light.

1. She Has Had A Successful Career In The Hollywood Entertainment Industry

: Ashley Judd at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan. 18, 2009. Author Donna Lou Morgan, U.S. Navy. Wikimedia Commons

Born in Granada Hills, California and with a two-decade career, Ashley Judd has had a successful career in the Hollywood entertainment industry, and her artwork has appeared in English-language films. Her successful works include; Ruby in Paradise, A Time to Kill, Kiss The Girls, and Olympus Has Fallen. She is also recognized as Wynonna Judd’s half-sister and Naomi Judd’s daughter, an American country music star and actor.

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2. She Grew Up In A Family Of Performing Artists

She comes from a family of performing artists. Unknown to many, she is the daughter of Naomi Judd, a country music singer and motivational speaker, and Michael Charles Ciminella, a marketing analyst for the horseracing industry. She also has an elder sister, Wynonna who has taken after her mother as a  country music singer.

3. She Attended 13 Schools During Her Twelve Years Of Education

Even though Ashley Judd spent most of her childhood in Kentucky, she attended 13 schools during her twelve years of education including the Sayre School (Lexington, Kentucky), Paul G. Blazer High School (Ashland, Kentucky), and Franklin High School in Tennessee amongst others. She later attended the University of Kentucky, where she majored in French and minored in anthropology, art history, theater, and women’s studies. A contrast to her acting career though it came in handy when she got involved in humanitarian work and politics.

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4. She Is An Alumnus Of The Prestigious Harvard University

Harvard University. Photo by Somesh Kesarla Suresh on Unsplash

As indicated earlier, at undergraduate level she majored in French and minored in anthropology, art history, theater, and women’s studies. Her thirst for education did not end there as she continued and earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Prestigious Harvard University in 2010. She says that she attended Harvard not for the prestige, but to become a more effective activist.

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5. She Is Deeply Involved In Humanitarian And Political Activism

While she is best known for an ongoing acting career spanning more than two decades, she has increasingly become involved in global humanitarian efforts and political activism. She is a feminist activist, bringing the plight of the poor and illiterate into the limelight. One of her pet projects is being a Youth AIDS ambassador.

Judd not only speaks to diplomats and world leaders, but she has also used her voice talents in films for the organization. Other charities and organizations she supports are concerned with children’s health, wildlife conservation, and women’s rights.

6. She Has Been Nominated For A PrimeTime Emmy Award For Her Prowess

Winning. Photo by Danny Howe on Unsplash

She has featured in many films. The most memorable one is when she starred as Rebecca Winstone in the 2012 television series “Missing,” for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. Missing is an American mystery thriller drama television series, starring Ashley Judd, Cliff Curtis and Sean Bean. It ran from March 15, 2012 to May 17, 2012 on ABC. The show was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 2012 – one for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Judd) and the other for Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special. Not a mean achievement for the talented actress.

7. In 2014, Judd Was The Narrator Of The Documentary Film About Turkish Preacher Fethullah Gülen

Ashley Judd at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second day of qualifications for the 2009 Indianapolis 500. Author Manningmbd. Wikimedia Commons

In 2014, Judd was the narrator of the documentary film about Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen, “Love is a Verb,” directed by Terry Spencer Hesser.  From the narration, ‘Love Is A Verb’ is an examination of a social movement of Sufi-inspired Sunni Muslims that began in Turkey in the l960s and now spans across the globe. The group is called Hizmet, the Turkish word for “service” or The Gülen Movement after its inspiration and teacher, Fethullah Gülen, a man TIME magazine named as one of the most influential leaders in the world in 2013 for “…preaching a message of tolerance.” —fener-im. She did well in this narration and received world acclamation.

8. In 2015, Judd became the first woman to narrate the opening for the telecast of the Kentucky Derby

Ashley Judd is big on Kentucky sporting events. On 2 May 2015, Ashley Judd became the first woman to narrate the opening of NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage since it began its broadcast in 2001. She said: 

‘What a delight! I have attended the Derby many times, from the in-field as a college student, to friends’ boxes, and I’ve even walked on the track behind the Derby field for the call to post, looking in awe up at the Twin Spires.

‘My memories are rooted in family — my dad picking me up before dawn to visit the barns and watch workouts, and especially how much my Papaws loved the Derby. 

‘Wherever I have been in the world on the first Saturday in May, I have watched the Derby. My life offers many bouquets and narrating NBC’s opening is an especially sweet one.’

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9. She Speaks Openly About Being A Victim Of Rape

She is a woman of courage. It is remembered that at the Women in the World summit in April 2019, Judd addressed Georgia’s six-week abortion ban, which had been passed in March 2019. During the meeting she disclosed that she had been raped three times, and became pregnant once. She said, “As everyone knows, and I’m very open about it, I’m a three-time rape survivor. One of the times that I was raped there was conception and I’m very thankful I was able to access safe and legal abortion. Because the rapist, who is a Kentuckian, as am I, and I reside in Tennessee, has paternity rights in Kentucky and Tennessee. I would’ve had to co-parent with my rapist”.

10. She Is Currently The Magazine Advertising “Face” Of American Beauty

Judd is currently the magazine advertising “face” of American Beauty, an Estée Lauder cosmetic brand sold exclusively at Kohl’s department stores, and H. Stern jewelers. In early 2012, however, her image suddenly disappeared from American Beauty’s website.