Actress Ashley Judd recently reflected on her role in the 1995 epic crime drama film “Heat,” discussing the portrayal of female characters. She and her partner have been rewatching all her films.
Depiction of Women in “Heat”
Judd expressed her concerns about how women are represented in the film during an interview with Vulture. “The depiction of women in this movie is not okay,” she stated, adding, “I look at all my movies that way.”
At 57, Judd mentioned that she now views her roles through a different lens, focusing on how they reflect internalized misogyny. “Today, when people say, ‘Kiss the Girls is my favorite movie,’ I’m like, ‘Let’s talk about that,’ because male sexual violence and male torture of women is not entertainment, and that’s what that movie is about,” she remarked.
She emphasized the need to address structural inequalities rather than simply labeling such portrayals as “resilience.” “Calling it ‘resilience’ rather than going into the structural inequality that caused the harm to happen in the first place — we’re all implicated in that,” she reflected.
Proud of “Heat”
Despite its flaws, Judd expressed her affection for “Heat,” which features notable actors such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, and Val Kilmer. “And I’m glad, still, that I was a part of this movie, and I do think it’s iconic,” she commented.
She recognized the film as a reflection of reality, acknowledging its problematic aspects. “To say the movie is problematic is not to put the responsibility and focus where it lies, which is with the reality of which it’s a reflection,” she clarified. “Observation and critique is what I’m offering.”
Charlene Shiherlis’ Complex Relationship
In “Heat,” Judd portrayed Charlene Shiherlis, married to Val Kilmer’s character, Chris Shiherlis. She likened their ill-fated relationship to “Romeo and Juliet, but the reverse, right?”
Towards the film’s conclusion, the characters share a silent farewell, as Charlene chooses not to betray Chris. “I’m giving him freedom. I distanced ourselves from each other for this scene,” she shared about her collaboration with Kilmer, who passed away in April 2025.
“Once Val and I finished the other scenes, we didn’t connect again, which may have, in its own way, contributed to the feeling of the finality of this moment, and the longing.”
Since the success of “Heat,” Judd has appeared in various films, including “Frida,” “Divergent,” and “Double Jeopardy,” among others.