Ashley Judd has critically re-examined the depiction of women in the 1995 film 'Heat,' stating it "is not okay" and reflects normalized cinematic violence. She extends this critique to films like 'Kiss the Girls,' arguing male violence against women should not be seen as entertainment. Judd emphasizes that framing women's suffering as "resilience" overlooks deeper structural inequalities that cause harm. Despite her criticism, she remains proud of her role in the iconic film, viewing it as a truthful, if problematic, reflection of its era.

Ashley Judd re-evaluates her film 'Heat,' critiquing its portrayal of women while calling it an iconic reflection of a problematic reality.

Actor Ashley Judd said the depiction of women in the 1995 crime drama Heat "is not okay," while adding that the film reflects the realities of its time and the structural inequalities faced by women, according to People.

In an interview, Judd, 57, said she has been rewatching her films with her partner and re-evaluating them through a more critical lens, particularly in terms of how women were portrayed on screen.

"The depiction of women in this movie is not okay," Judd said, referring to Heat. "I look at all my movies that way," as quoted by People.

The actor noted that her perspective has evolved over time, especially in relation to how cinema has often normalised violence against women. Reflecting on her 1997 film Kiss the Girls, Judd said, "When people say, 'Kiss the Girls is my favourite movie,' I'm like, 'Let's talk about that,' because male sexual violence and male torture of women is not entertainment."

She added that framing such narratives as "resilience" often ignores deeper structural inequalities. "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 said, according to People.

Despite her critique, Judd said she remains proud of her work in Heat, calling the film "iconic."

"I'm glad, still, that I was a part of this movie," she said. "It's a reflection of reality, and reality is problematic."

Judd portrayed Charlene Shiherlis, the wife of Val Kilmer's character Chris Shiherlis, in the Michael Mann-directed film. She described their relationship as "Romeo and Juliet, but the reverse," referring to the emotional climax in which her character silently chooses not to betray her husband to the police.