AOL Chat Transcript 2001

Ashley Judd: Hi, everybody. Thanks for joining us. The box office is crowded this weekend, but don't forget about ‘Someone Like You’!

What do you think about this role compared to others?

This role compared to others was an equally emotional role for me, but in a comedy. I was surprised that it wasn't easier. I'd love the physical aspects of playing this role and getting to act goofy for a change.

What, if anything, did you learn from co-star Morgan Freeman?

That it's really important to keep your costume on at all times! Sometimes I think he is such a superb actor because he never takes off his tie, even at lunch. I'm always wanting to kick back and wear sweatpants during my close-ups. Seriously, I think I've learned from him you always have to be devoted to the material and never slack off.

What was the best part of starring in the movie ‘Someone Like You’?

The best part was working with an excellent ensemble cast. Greg Kinnear was very helpful and taught me a lot about comedy, and Hugh is going to be such a big star, and I can say that "I knew him when."

Do you find it a little unsettling to be THE STAR in a blockbuster movie these days?

I think it is important to mix up starring roles and supporting roles -- like I am getting ready to play Younger Vivi in "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" -- because, frankly, that much responsibility all the time would leave no room for a private life.

Ashley, did you know while making ‘Double Jeopardy’ that it would be a hit, and did you get that feeling while making 'Someone Like You'?

‘Double Jeopardy’ was a magical process, because we did know somehow that movie was intrinsically entertaining. It was a wonderful atmosphere on set; it was a very easy movie to make. Pleasant. And the producer of ‘Someone Like You’ is very experienced, and she always had a lot of confidence about the movie.

Ashley, are you an AOL member?

I love to e-mail, yes. I think e-mail is a fantastic way to stay in touch.

What's your favorite movie that you have starred/acted in?

In a way, it's hard for me to say, because I don't see my movies that often. But I remember being especially proud of my evolution as an actress in a movie I did called ‘Normal Life,’ which was a very grueling movie to play. I'm fond of my other movies for a lot of reasons, like ‘Heat’ and the ideal of working with a director as brilliant as Michael Mann -- but for my creative process, those two movies really stand out.

Ashley, is it true that you are going to be the new Catwoman? And if so, what has inspired you the most about taking on this kind of role, since you have been in mostly drama (suspense) type movies?

‘Someone Like You’ was a great opportunity for me to spread my wings and show another side of myself. I always knew I could do comedy. I, for personal reasons, felt like I had something to prove in drama, like that was a proving ground for me as an actor. Cut to present day -- now suddenly I am ready to try something more different. And yes, I am going to play Catwoman for Warner Bros. in my own Catwoman feature. My inspiration as a superhero is that Catwoman is a very ambivalent character. There is a lot of fun to be had with this movie, as well as a great acting experience.

Hello, Ashley, how has your life changed since becoming famous?

Well, I think that my initial response to that actually reveals my attitude. I was going to say that I [don’t] look upon myself as a famous person. I think my acting [is a creative] endeavor, and I am able to make a living at it. That [also] kind of determines a lot of your life. There is so much travel, and when you're working, it's a totally consuming experience. As for the part of being famous, I don't have that much to say about it. It gives me a lot of pleasure making movies that entertain people and providing worthwhile diversions for those things in life. But being "famous" has not changed me that much, except for that much stuff to be said now about me. One of the pleasures about doing a live chat is it's a pleasure to get things right, because it's so hard for anyone to get things exactly right.

Are you ever going to go into music? I saw you on TV with your family, and I think you have a great voice.

Of course, I've always been into music. Would I ever sing, myself? I have a great admiration for singing as an outlet. You can literally burst into song and release something inside yourself. So, we'll see!

Ashley, if you weren't acting, what do you think you would be doing for a living instead?

I might not be making a living! Maybe something to do with anthropology and teaching. But I really don't know, so I am very grateful that acting has worked out for me. I'd like to think I would be a very good homemaker, because I am really into my house, but that may be because I travel so much. I literally have cats [chasing me down] the hall... it's a little upside-down here.

Welcome, Ashley. Do you ever plan to do live theater? It's really nice of you to do this chat.

Well, it's really nice for you to see ‘Someone Like You’! I'd love to do another play. I started out on Broadway in the 1990s... a very interesting and creative experience. I considered doing ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ in London this year, but it was going to be during Dario's racing season, and it would've been too hectic.

What do you consider to be your best film role?

I know ‘Someone Like You’ got mixed reviews (cynics, one and all), but my feeling is that regular people that see the movie really, really enjoyed it. And in some sense, Jane was a great character, because emotionally the director pushed to make everything real, but for me, I was doing all that emoting in a fresh way. Because it was something I’ve done so recently, I have to say Jane. But I can't forget my first part as Ruby in ‘Ruby in Paradise.’ I always have to give that part the proper respect.

How do you keep your professional and private life separate?

We try to keep it separate, that we don't [involve] each other in our separate professional, public weekends. I'm with Dario on the race weekends, but not in the car. Dario is always with me on set, so we're not active... we have fully integrated our lives and give ourselves a lot of support. And also, I think that everybody in this day and age have to remember and be conscious and nurture your home life, whether that home life is either at home or on the bus. And the status of our relationship is the focal point of our life, which always gets the proper time and attention.

Do you go online a lot?

I don't go online that much. It's hard on the set to get a hard line. But I do try to e-mail with a lot of my family before I go to work or come home. Dario likes to go online because he can keep up with all the European racing reports.

Ashley, how did you start out acting? Because I want to be an actor. Can you give me some tips on how to get in a movie and what to do during an audition?

The first and most important thing to do during an audition is to RELAX and BREATHE. And, this sounds like a contradiction, but be yourself. Work from your own real emotion, don't try to co-op someone else's feelings. Thank you for the birthday wishes!

Hi, Ashley, I loved you paired up with Morgan Freeman, and I was wondering, will y’all ever work together again?

Hi! And yes, in fact, we just wrapped a movie entitled ‘High Crime.’ We filmed in San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is a dramatic thriller with a military courtroom backdrop, and hopefully it will be very great.

Ms. Judd, you are such a doll. I just wanted to thank you for being true to yourself and your roots. You are so personable. I was wondering what you would ask for if you were granted one wish.

That's a really good question, and I had a thought yesterday, and it was something real magical, but now I have to remember what it was. Oh yes! I wish I could conduct Beethoven's violin concerto. I listened to it last night, and it just made me drunk.

>> Back