Rumor: Ashley Judd considers Senate run

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 10: Actors Ashley Judd and Cliff Curtis arrive to the Disney ABC Television Group's "TCA Winter Press Tour" on January 10, 2012 in Pasadena, California. PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 10: Actors Ashley Judd and Cliff Curtis arrive to the Disney ABC Television Group's "TCA Winter Press Tour" on January 10, 2012 in Pasadena, California. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Rumor: Ashley Judd considers Senate run 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Actress ASHLEY JUDD has played down speculation she is preparing to enter U.S. politics, insisting she feels "honoured" to even be considered to run for office for the Democratic Party.

The Double Jeopardy star was one of many celebrity attendees at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina in September (12), when she spoke as a Tennessee delegate, and she has previously admitted she was seriously considering swapping Hollywood for Washington, D.C. after receiving such overwhelming support from leading members of the party.

She said, "Everybody's thinking about it (political office) for me... and I'm at the point where so many people have asked that I feel it is honourable to at least talk about it.

"I do a lot in the U.S. with the Democrat Party at the county and national level and that may be the best use of me... but I'm just gonna listen to what people have to say and (decide) should I keep operating in the space I'm in or should I take the show to Washington? I don't know."

After Tuesday's (06Nov12) elections, which saw party leader President Barack Obama winning another term in the White House, Judd's name was put forward as a possible new candidate for Senate by Representative John Yarmuth of Kentucky, insisting the actress could be a serious contender against Republican Senator Mitch McConnell in 2014 and end his run as the longest-serving Senator in the state.

And while 44-year-old Judd, who lived in Kentucky before moving to Tennessee, is flattered by Yarmuth's high praise, she has stopped short of declaring her level of interest in the job.

A statement issued to UsMagazine.com reads, "I cherish Kentucky, heart and soul, and while I'm very honoured by the consideration, we have just finished an election, so let's focus on coming together to keep moving America's families, and especially our kids, forward."