The daughter of Naiomi Judd, one of country music's hottest divas, Ashley grew up in run down homes in Kentucky before her mother and sister made their mark in country music. Not one for singing herself, Ashley turned to a different crative outlet: acting.

After briefly considering working in the Peace Corps in Africa following her graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1990, her sister Wynonna nudjed her back towards acting. Relocating to L.A., her country-girl charm helped land her first break almost immediately, landing a role in the film Kuffs.

Television became her mainstay, with a recurring role on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the highly acclaimed series Sisters. While she enjoyed her work on television, Ashley wanted to turn more towards film, and she did so with Ruby in Paradise. Judd earned an Independent Spirit Award for her role as the title role Ruby.p>

Finally noticed in Hollywood, Ashley earned more compelling supportive roles. She played Stockard Channing's addict daughter in Smoke, Val Kilmer's supportive wife in Heat and Matthew McConaughey's wife in the John Grisham's drama A Time to Kill. Helping to advance her to the level of leading lady was her standout performance in HBO's Norma Jean and Marilyn as Marilyn Monroe.

Having reached this new level of stardom, Ashley starred opposite Morgan Freeman in Kiss the Girls, recieving more acclaim and boosting her higher still. Still trying to ride the wave of sucess, she wiped out with disapointments like Simon Birch and Eye of the Beholder, in which she starred with Ewan Mcgregor. in 1999, Double Jeopardy helped to re-energise her standing as a tough-as-nails actress.