What are your fondest memories of being an Arts & Sciences student at UK?

Ashley Judd: Probably, above and beyond the education itself, the conversations that I would have with my advisors.

Are there any classes or professors that had a special impact on you?

Ashley Judd: Madame La Charit, for one Professor of French Virginia La Charit]. She believed in me and had an ambitious plan in mind, and her perspective and regard for me as competent and talented really opened my own eyes to my own academic abilities. When you've got someone whom you perceive as a wizened professor encouraging you to do things that are pretty ambitious, you get a lot more confident. . . . Susan Abbott-Jamieson [anthropology], Chris Havice [art history] and Jeannine Blackwell [German] were my most prominent influences. The feedback that they would give me on journal entries, remarks on papers I had written. . . . I blossomed. I absolutely flourished. First of all, I was in fertile soil, but they cultivated me just right. It all came together for me at UK. It exactly where I was supposed to be.

How has a liberal arts education prepared you for the challenges of the entertainment industry?

Ashley Judd: Well, the fact is that one imagination is critically important, and if you have had your imagination stimulated by what is basically a variety of subjects, you are much more amenable to accepting, to understanding and interacting with the realities of the world. . . . Your eyes are already open and you are more ready to believe and have awe at the wonders of humanity.

What projects are you currently working on?

Ashley Judd: I did an adaptation of "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving the novel. We shot that in Toronto and Nova Scotia and are actually shooting another day this week in L. A. I've been doing a lot of fun things, like saying "I won do the movie for a nickel under my quote," and then suddenly they call back and they meet my quote and I've like, "OK, back to the wall here. I'm going to have to do the movie."

The things on my plate next year [1998] will be very distinct from one another. A film noir/femme fatale role; a woman who in a small town in a very snowy part of America with a young child and a husband who finds a plane full of money; a romantic comedy; and a movie that I really love, which is essentially "Ruby in Paradise," the next chapter [Judd played Ruby Lee Gissing in the acclaimed 1993 film]. Instead of it being about a woman from eastern Tennessee, she from eastern Kentucky and she lives in Cincinnati. It a Jonathan Demme project.

What is your dream role? Are there any characters from the arts or literature that you would like to portray on screen?

Ashley Judd: Well, there are actually a lot, as indicated by my French major, four minors and Honors Program curriculum. I have a lot of variety within me, and the dream role, I think, is actually a compilation of parts that express different aspects of my persona and personal interests. They all have in common tremendous emotional underpinning and a very rich inner life. I would still love to do "Feather Crowns," the Bobbie Ann Mason book. When HillBilly Films is actually officially a part of a parent company and I have my development money, that will be one of the first projects. I really love it. I see it ultimately as a love story and a really interesting way to depict that time period. I tell people about that story all the time. I just reread "Spence and Lila" [Mason 1988 novella].

Any thoughts on the UK basketball team? Are we going to see you again in March at the NCAA tournament?

Ashley Judd: You are going to see the Cats and me in March. Im going to try to come up before then, of course. I think were doing great so far.

Do you sign autographs through the mail and if so, how many requests do you get?
Yes. We haven't been keeping count, but it sure seems like a lot. I receive so many through my agent, publicist, various movie studio offices and, of course, my sister's fan mail address. I tend to sit down, say, three times a year and do all that has piled up. I'm on too many locations to do it otherwise. Some (letters) are a real kick to read! We save the best ones and have alerted the authorities about some (others).

What is the strangest autograph request you have ever had?
I've actually not had very strange ones, just the usual bare body parts every now and then.

Are you aware of how large the hobby of autograph collecting has become, and how did you become aware?
Yes, via the succinctness of many requests and folks indicating how many they collected. Seems like a lot of vets are collectors.

Do you sign autographs in person and, if so, do you limit the number of items per person?
Yes, but I must say I expect people to be decent, courteous and unthreatening. I really enjoy meeting people's requests, and the occasional jerk really spoils it for everyone else, making us wary, uncertain and self-protective out of necessity. I always do the best I can (to accommodate fans) and get frustrated when people get angry because there is a cut-off or time problem.

Are there any upcoming events where people might be able to get your autograph in person?
The Emmy's, The CMA's (Country Music Association Awards).

How do you view people who pose as fans but actually sell the autographs?
Awful! No better than common crooks! Selfish!! Because they take up time for their own profit and exclude others from their opportunity to get one. I don't understand it, really.

Are there any famous people whose autograph you would want?
I'd prefer to be knowledgeable about them in a way that enhances my life, like knowing about Einstein, for example. But I'd not say no to a Leonardo, Cezanne or other great artist's autograph!

Do you collect anything?
Household and family heirlooms, quilts, and hopefully knowledge!

Are there any items you refuse to sign?
I would refrain from signing anything obscene, mean-spirited or degrading.

How much do you think your autograph is sold for?
Maybe $20?!