FRANKKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear said Thursday that he has spoken with actress Ashley Judd and plans to talk more with her about next year's U.S. Senate race.

"She's been trying to arrange and will be arranging some more conversations here in the next month or so," Beshear told reporters after a bill signing.

Beshear said he spoke with Judd at the Bluegrass Ball in Washington D.C. in January. He declined to say if he would endorse her entry into the race against Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell.

"There are a number of people who are still talking about running for the U.S. Senate and I think she would be a very serious candidate, there may be others who would also... but I'm going to encourage as many as possible to take a look at it," Beshear said.

Various media outlets have reported that Judd met this week with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee about a possible run.

Linda Blackford: (859) 231-1359. Twitter: @lbblackford