Ashley Judd shared her perspective on the representation of women in Michael Mann–directed Heat (1995), which, in retrospect, she said is “not okay.” She revealed that she recently rewatched all her works with her husband and recognized that the movie’s female portrayal reflects internalized misogyny. While she appreciates being part of the film, Judd noted that it also reflects reality.

Ashley Judd mówi o swojej pracy nad Heat Michaela Manna

In an earlier interview with Vulture, Judd expressed that “The depiction of women in this movie is not okay,” referring to the Michael Mann–directed Heat. She shared that revisiting her work with her husband has allowed her to reassess her performances from a new perspective. This has helped her identify the flawed representation of women back in the day.

She said, “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. “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.”

While Judd admitted Heat’s portrayal of women was problematic, she still loved being a part of it and considers the movie to be “iconic” as it represents reality. She added, “And I’m glad, still, that I was a part of this movie, and I do think it’s iconic. It’s a reflection of reality, and reality is problematic. 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. Observation and critique is what I’m offering.”

The 1995 crime-drama film follows a professional thief who, before his retirement, expects to carry out a final heist. However, he remains under the tight supervision of a detective, who leaves no opportunity to stop his heist. In the movie, Judy played Charlene Shiherlis, who was the partner of Val Kilmer’s Chris Shiherlis.