Ashley Judd’s Younger Years in Hollywood: See Her Transformation From ’90s Stunner to Now

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April 19, 2023 10:00AM EDT

John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock

Ashley, the daughter of late country legend Naomi Judd, began her career in Hollywood in the 1990s, starring in a series of well-received films, including ‘Ruby in Paradise’, ‘Norma Jean & Marilyn’, and ‘A Time to Kill’. The actress has acted across various genres, too, showing off her sci-fi prowess in ‘Divergent’ and comedy chops in ‘Tooth Fairy’.

In recent years, Ashley helped revitalize the #MeToo movement, speaking out about her experiences with sexual harassment in the industry to bring awareness to the abuse that goes on in Hollywood. Now, along with starring in films, Ashley focuses on her activism, speaking out about issues that are important to her, including politics and women’s issues.

Swipe through for photos of the Hollywood actress and activist, starting from the beginning of her career up until now.

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Ashley Judd Then & Now: Photos Of The Hollywood Actress

Ashley Judd Then & Now: Photos Of The Hollywood Actress — Ashley Judd, born April 19, 1968 in Los Angeles, is an actress and activist, with a career spanning over three decades. Here, she’s seen starring as Norma Jean Dougherty in the 1996 TV biographical film ‘Norma Jean and Marilyn’, alongside a more recent red carpet appearance.

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Ashley Judd In ‘Ruby In Paradise’

Ashley Judd In ‘Ruby In Paradise’ — Sweethearts. Ashley Judd and Todd Field embrace in a movie still from their 1993 romance drama ‘Ruby in Paradise’.

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Ashley Judd in ‘The Passion of Darkly Noon’

Ashley Judd in ‘The Passion of Darkly Noon’ — Blonde ambition. Ashley Judd stars as Callie in the 1995 psychological thriller ‘The Passion Of Darkly Noon’.

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Ashley Judd in ‘Norma Jean and Marilyn’

Ashley Judd in ‘Norma Jean and Marilyn’ — Screen siren. Ashley Judd stars as Norma Jean Dougherty in the 1996 TV biographical film ‘Norma Jean and Marilyn’.

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Ashley Judd at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Dinner

Ashley Judd at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Dinner — Ashley Judd attends a British Academy of Film and Television Arts dinner in Los Angeles in Beverly Hills on June 26, 1996. She wore a sparkling silver dress and looked fresh faced.

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Ashley Judd at an Auction

Ashley Judd at an Auction — Ashley Judd attends an auction event in 1998. Her red dress was divine.

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Ashley Judd at the CFDA Fashion Awards

Ashley Judd at the CFDA Fashion Awards — Ashley Judd attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1988. The flesh-toned frock was stunning.

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Ashley Judd in ‘Double Jeopardy’

Ashley Judd in ‘Double Jeopardy’ — Action! Ashley Judd stars as Libby Parsons in the 1999 thriller crime film ‘Double Jeopardy’.

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Ashley Judd in ‘Someone Like You’

Ashley Judd in ‘Someone Like You’ — Ashley Judd stars as Jane Goodale in the 2001 rom-com film ‘Someone Like You’. The movie was about a talk show talent scout whose relationship column gets famous.

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Ashley Judd at the ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’ Opening Night

Ashley Judd at the ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’ Opening Night — Broadway bound! Ashley Judd attends the opening night of ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ in New York on November 2, 2003.

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Ashley Judd in ‘Twisted’

Ashley Judd in ‘Twisted’ — Ready or not? Ashley Judd stars as Jessica Shepard in the 2004 psychological thriller film ‘Twisted’.

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Ashley Judd at an Estée Lauder Event

Ashley Judd at an Estée Lauder Event — Ashley Judd, the then-face of Estée Lauder, attends an event for the beauty brand’s ‘American Beauty’ line in New York on June 23, 2004. He plum dress was beautiful with her bouncy curls.

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Ashley Judd at the Cannes Film Festival

Ashley Judd at the Cannes Film Festival — Ashley Judd and Kevin Kline prepare to present the Grand Prix du Jury Award at the 57th International Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 22, 2004. She looked like a vision in her pink gown.

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Ashley Judd at a Breast Cancer Research Foundation Event

Ashley Judd at a Breast Cancer Research Foundation Event — Twice as nice! Ashley Judd and Elizabeth Hurley attend ‘The Very Hot Pink Party’ presented by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in New York on April 10, 2006.

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Ashley Judd at the Purple Inaugural Ball

Ashley Judd at the Purple Inaugural Ball — Ashley Judd attends the Purple Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C. for the inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009. The dove grey gown was so elegant.

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Ashley Judd at Indy 300 Miami

Ashley Judd at Indy 300 Miami — Ashley Judd celebrates her then-husband Dario Franchitti’s second championship win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida for Indy 300 Miami on October 2, 2010. The two were married between 2001 and 2013.

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Ashley Judd at a Signing For Her Memoir

Ashley Judd at a Signing For Her Memoir — A writer too! Ashley Judd poses at the book signing for her memoir ‘All That Is Bitter and Sweet’ in New York on April 6, 2011.

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Ashley Judd at the ‘Dolphin Tale 2’ Premiere

Ashley Judd at the ‘Dolphin Tale 2’ Premiere — Making a splash! Ashley Judd attends the premiere of the film ‘Dolphin Tale 2’ in Los Angeles on September 7, 2014.

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Ashley Judd at the 2012 Emmy Awards

Ashley Judd at the 2012 Emmy Awards — Red carpet ready. Ashley Judd and her then-husband Dario Franchitti arrive at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 23, 2012. Her high, teased hair may be a style she’d prefer to forget.

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Ashley Judd at the ‘Insurgent’ Premiere

Ashley Judd at the ‘Insurgent’ Premiere — Ashley Judd attends an afterparty following the premiere of her film ‘Insurgent’ with co-stars Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley in New York on March 16, 2015. Her plunging floral dress was to-die-for.

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Ashley Judd at the 2018 Academy Awards

Ashley Judd at the 2018 Academy Awards — Ashley Judd arrives at the 90th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 4, 2018. Wow.

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Ashley Judd In 2018

Ashley Judd In 2018 — Ashley Judd speaks at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif on Apr. 30, 2018. Judd is walking again, nearly six months after shattering her leg deep in a Congolese rainforest. She tripped and fell and broke her tibia in multiple places, nearly losing her leg altogether. The actress posted a video on Instagram on Sunday where she is seen walking up a hill in a national park in the Swiss alps. She says her leg and foot “worked beautifully”.

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Ashley Judd in ‘Berlin Station’

Ashley Judd in ‘Berlin Station’ — Ashley Judd films the show ‘Berlin Station’ in 2018. She played spy BB Yates on the show.

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Ashley Judd Supports Elizabeth Warren

Ashley Judd Supports Elizabeth Warren — Getting political! Ashley Judd campaigns for Elizabeth Warren on Jan. 24, 2020.

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