When you hear the words “AIDS,” “Africa,” and “celebrity,” do you instantly think of Oprah and U2’s Bono. I do. And for good reason. The mega-stars have been heavy hitters in the battle against the disease raising millions of dollars to offer relief to residents living in communities that have been ravaged by the disease. But, now the talk show queen and the Irish rocker can add a new celebrity do-gooder to their list of soldiers: Ashley Judd.
Despite having a new film in theaters (“Come Early Morning”) and another on the way (“Bug,” due in early 2007) –it’s Judd’s role as activist that she says has her most excited.
In an interview she did with reporters promoting a new documentary she did as an AIDS activist, Judd says she considers her new role as one her most important one to date. In May, Judd, traveled to Central America as a global ambassador for YouthAIDS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young people around the world about HIV/AIDS. Her entire trip was documented on film and is now set to debut on TLC on December 1st. The documentary is called: “Ashley Judd and YouthAIDS: Confronting the Pandemic” and the actress says she is thrilled for it to premiere.
The film, airs appropriately enough, on World AIDS Day and chronicles Judd’s journey – along with pal and fellow YouthAIDS ambassador, actress Salma Hayek – through communities in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua that have been devastated by HIV/AIDS. Judd told reporters that during the shooting of the documentary both she and Hayek were able to come face to face with the disease in hospices, clinics, brothels, and slums.
Since her trip, Judd has visited nine other countries with YouthAIDS. In March, Judd says she will be heading to India with YouthAIDS. She told reporters that she considers her travels and activism a way of giving back to those less fortunate and hopes that people who watch the documentary will be inspired to do the same.
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