Ashley Judd Is Ending Her Acting Hiatus Amid Pursuit Of Joy

Ashley Judd is ready to relive her days as an actress with a heartwarming project!

The TV personality and activist rose to fame as the daughter of late country music singer Naomi Judd, who performed alongside her oldest daughter, Wynonna Judd. While her mother and half-sister garnered fame as The Judds, Ashley stole hearts as a leading lady.

Although she achieved numerous successes as an actress and model, starring in hits like the “Divergent” series and “A Time To Kill,” her fame became too much to bear thanks to the pressure of the industry. On that note, Ashley Judd entered an era of healing by pursuing happiness.

Ashley announced her return to Hollywood on Instagram, sharing screenshots of a news article covering the story. She thanked fans for clamoring for her comeback to the spotlight, noting that their support pushed her to make another movie.

The good news did stop there as Ashley revealed she would not only star in her new film but also executive produce it. “Your encouragement has supported my embracing ’21Down.’ Caden and his family’s lives are consistent with my values,” she explained in the post’s caption.

Ashley added that she decided to star in the movie inspired by the true story of Caden Cox because it aligned with her beliefs about kindness, love, unity, and “embracing all humans, whatever our perceptions of them may be.”

Ashley shared more details about the upcoming project, revealing it was a collaborative effort with “Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and other kind people, to celebrate families who love and strive.”

She also expressed excitement about connecting with fans through the movie and thanked them once more for advocating her return to acting. The post generated positive responses from fans touched by Ashley’s announcement.

“It will be good to see you acting again! You’ve always been one of my favorite actors,” a fan raved. Another echoed similar sentiments, writing, “So glad to see you again in a movie. You’re a wonderful actress and a kind and gentle soul.” Others agreed, stating that they couldn’t wait to see Ashley act again.

The news article Ashley highlighted in her announcement was a report by Deadline covering the details of her upcoming movie. The project titled “21 Down” was inspired by the historical life of Caden Cox, the first person with Down syndrome to play and score in a college football game.

The story would reportedly focus on the Cox family’s fight for inclusion, especially the doting parents’ unwavering commitment to their son and their efforts in helping him achieve his goals. Instead of being a typical sports drama, the movie promised to be a tear-jerker.

Sean McNamara sat in the director’s chair, with Jay Paul Deratany and Oscar-winning writer Ron Bass serving as screenplay writers. As stated, Ashley scored double credits as a cast member and executive producer, with Melissa Bickerton and Thom Lipari joining as fellow executive producers.

Ashley’s comeback announcement came a month after a source addressed her hiatus. The Blast covered the story, reporting that the source claimed she was on a “long journey to reconnect with herself and find joy in everyday things during the few decades she has left.”

The source explained that Ashley did not have a normal childhood due to her late mother and half-sister. Because they achieved fame first, Ashley allegedly worked for them before joining the entertainment industry.

The TV personality, per the source, eventually could not withstand the pressure of the ever-demanding industry and chose peace over fame. “She wants to experience the joy she never had as a child. Her hope is to lose all the drama and expectations and splash around like a silly child,” the source said.

Three years before her return to the entertainment industry, Ashley faced the traumatic loss of her mother in April 2022. The Blast shared that Naomi ended her life following a long battle with her mental health, but her daughters did not have the privacy to grieve.

Ashley slammed the media’s insensitivity during the most challenging time of her life in an op-ed, revealing that she was forced to do four interviews following the tragedy. She pushed for better protection laws for grieving families, stressing that autopsies and toxicology reports shouldn’t be publicized.

“What more do folks want us to give of our grief?” Ashley wondered. Her half-sister, Wynonna, supported her message on her Instagram page. She shared a picture of the Judd women posing together alongside the words, “I STAND BESIDE YOU AND WITH YOU IN THIS.”

Will Ashley Judd’s upcoming movie be the start of more successes?