BeatBoxBetty Interviews ASHLEY JUDD about THE DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD!

Blessed with beauty and brains... and that thang called talent, ASHLEY JUDD has definitely paid her fair share of dues. In early years she played a foul-mouthed youth in "Smoke" and then went on to overcome a string of ho-hum thrillers like "Kiss The Girls" and "Eye of the Beholder" - becoming one of Hollywood's most sought after actresses in the process.

But has she finally shown the world that she's more than just the daughter of country-music's Naomi Judd and half sister to Wynnona? Find out as Ashley chats with Betty about her family roots and her latest flick, the female powered dramady "Divine Secrets of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood!"

Ashley Judd (third on the right) lets it all hang out as the young and fun Vivi in "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood"
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Syd's mother gets all riled up when some not so nice things get printed in the paper. I'm sure you might've given an interview where something was misinterpreted. Did you think about it?
No, but we as a family have tried to come up with some general avenues of communication so that we can make sure that we don't make, you know, mistakes. For example, earlier today someone asked me more detail about the time that Ellen Burstyn and I met before we worked on our character together, and I said, "you know what, I haven't asked her, so I'm reluctant to say anything terribly specific because that's personal to her creative process." And that's definitely something that I practice within our family at large. I would never, for example, describe what it was like for my sister in the studio without making sure it was OK with her first. Stuff like that.

Have you ever spoken to a member of the press and had them twist something that you said?
Well, [laughs] here's kind of a fun anecdote - it's fun now because it's ultimately very harmless - this whole Liz Smith rumor that Sandy (Bullock) and I were best friends and she was my maid of honor...and in fact, we [only] met twice. And she seems completely fantastic and we've e-mailed a little bit, you know, "What are you wearing on Oprah?", things like that... But that's just a classic example of something seeming germane to reality, and then being blown up into this, you know, hopefully as I said innocent and harmless that everyone sort of lionizes and believes.

What about the talk we always hear that your mom didn't approve of some of your movie roles. Is there any truth to that?
There isn't, and we have addressed that in courts of law, and had favorable outcomes.

Did that hurt your friendship with your mom.
No, not at all. If anything, it was extremely conducive in terms of helping us all remember to be cautious. You know, and that was an unfortunate situation and she in particular suffered because she's so inordinately proud of me that it hurts her that people might think otherwise.

How did she help you become the person you are?
Well, after the small obstacle of giving birth to me [laughs], she made sure that I had a nurtured imagination and she encouraged me in my individuality, my wackiness.

Do you have something equivalent to a Ya-Ya Sisterhood of your own?
I think I do. It starts with my girlfriend, Gabrielle, with whom I've been friends with since we were infants. And I've been very blessed to add extremely significant women along the way. My group is small, culled by time, fate and circumstances. But very hardy and very outstanding. And one of the things that I feel anoints my life is that these women are all friends with each other independently of me - they end up having their own relationships with each other. And somehow that's like a big 'Yes' referendum. The whole movement, you know?

What was the most challenging scene for you? Was that the whipping scene?
When you're doing something physical like that, once you commit to it physically, it really cascades. The thing that was difficult about that was the set up, knowing that I had to create for myself a very imperative, however bizarre reason that that had to happen. And that just was the little process of roving in my imagination until I found that. But actually the pills [scene] upstairs was a little bit harder. That's completely foreign to me...completely foreign to me.

What was that stuff ... speed?
Oh, what is it. It's actually that stuff Marilyn Monroe took. I think it was mixers, it was speed and a pain killer combined. Lethal ... lethal.

Ashley Judd gets down and funky in "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood"

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

This movie shows so many flashback scenes of happy and sad times. When you think back on your childhood, do you have any stand out "mom and me" memories?
Um, well, I had a little birthday party and we had a home movie from it, and that's really neat. And there's something elusive about it too because I don't actually remember the party. And so it's got this extra poignancy because I'm looking at myself obviously having this really special good time, and I'm kind of searching to remember it.

How old were you?
I think I was 10. And our grandparents were just so awesome and we lived with them every summer, and I've got gobs of memories of my grandfather. He would come around the golf course, and at a certain hole, he could see the diving boards. And he'd stand there until someone else or I noticed him, and then he'd kind of give me a look and I'd go and do all my dives, and he'd watch.

Was there a piece of advice or a lesson that your mom taught you that really sticks with you?
Life is more important than show business. I mean, I say that all the time, but it's very true. You know, what's so fabulous about it is that it's specific to us. It can be applied to anyone in any career, but it's so endemic to our particular lifestyles. A really good piece of advice.

What in life is your anti-drug, or your natural high?
I have a couple of answers to that. Yoga. Yoga for sure. Definitely transporting, and transforming and opening and curative.

Which kind of Yoga do you do.
Just kind of a, sort of Hatha based stuff. Good stuff.

What about the other one. You had two.
Love.

Ashley Judd in "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood"

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.