People say that to me and I think what unites all my characters is that they are hurt; it's most accurate to say I play characters that are hurt but are responding to their environment.

Judd was honored November 10 2009 as the recipient of the fourth annual USA Today Hollywood Hero awarded for her work with PSI. In 2010 Ashley Judd received a Mid-Career master's degree in public administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government a one-year degree rather than the two year MPA. By the end of the 1990s Judd had managed to achieve significant fame and success as a leading actress after leading roles in several thrillers that performed well at the box office including Kiss the Girls in 1997 and 1999's Double Jeopardy.

She also starred as Rebecca Winstone in the television series Missing in 2012. Judd has played lead roles in films including Ruby in Paradise (1993) Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996) Kiss the Girls (1997) Double Jeopardy (1999) Where the Heart Is (2000) High Crimes (2002) and Dolphin Tale (2011).