Actress Ashley Judd arrives at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles September 23, 2012. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Actress Ashley Judd has emerged as Kentucky Democrats' top choice to challenge Republican Mitch McConnell for political office in 2014.

The Frida star has been toying with the idea of embracing a new career in politics for some time and attended the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina in September, when she spoke as a Tennessee delegate.

Since the presidential election last month, Judd has met with leading Democrats and now she's Kentucky's Senate candidate of choice, according to a new survey.

The actress attended the University of Kentucky, but now lives in Tennessee.

Earlier this month, Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Kentucky Republican John Yarmuth revealed they had met with Judd, and Yarmuth said, "She is doing all the things that a serious candidate exploring a race should do.

"I think there are a lot of people, and I was one of them, who wanted to let her know that her candidacy would be an exciting prospect for us."

Judd has yet to comment on the latest speculation, but just last month, she dismissed reports of a political run, insisting she felt "honoured" to even be considered for a Democratic Party post.