Katie Holmes got her start as an actress in theater productions at her high school, Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls Catholic school in her hometown of Toledo, OH. She comes from a "super-athletic" family, the youngest of three sisters and one brother, and she admits that despite her best efforts she was "horrible" at sports. Katie found her niche in theater, although, she never dreamed she could make it professionally as an actress because of her Midwest roots. However, in July 1995 she attended a "Hooray for Hollywood" Convention in New York City, where she caught the eye of talent manager Al Onorato, who encouraged her to come to Los Angeles for television's pilot season. Six months later, in LA, she immediately won a small role in Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm," a critically acclaimed art house film based on the novel by the same name by Rick Moody. Shortly after this, Katie was offered the part of Buffy Summers in the WB's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." However she declined in order to complete her high school education.In fact, she followed up her big screen debut in "The Ice Storm" with a part as Lola in her school's production of "Damn Yankees." As the oft-repeated ? tale goes, this nearly cost her the role of Joey Potter, as she refused to ditch her classmates' on opening night for the scheduled "Dawson's Creek" audition. However, DC creator and writer Kevin Williamson was so impressed by her audition tape, made in her basement with her mother playing Dawson, which he was willing to reschedule?. Kevin Williamson, described his first encounter with Katie this way, "I'll never forget the day when, after weeks of searching for the right actress to play the virtuoso role of Joey, we got [Katie's audition] tape. After viewing it everyone in the room was speechless."In her past few films she has really broken out of that Dawsons Creek mold. She had her first nude scene as Greg Kinnear's slutty fianc in Sam Raimis The Gift. She enchanted Michael Douglas in Wonder Boys. Her new feature is Abandon where she plays "Katie" a top student at an elite college who is under such pressure after her boyfriend disappeared that she fears she may be losing her mind when he starts spying on her.
She came into the room wearing this very sexy sweater type thing with no shoulders on it. She is just the sweetest person and answered all of our questions. At times when we got to stuff about nudity she seemed to not want to talk about them but she is just as cute in real life as she is on Dawson's Creek. That one dimple is for real apparently.
Check out the website for Abandon
Dan Epstein: What was it like playing a college student in the movie?
Katie Holmes: I really liked playing an elite college student because I think the early twenties are very interesting time for people. A wonderful and hard time. It's a cool world to explore. This particular world we created for Abandon is very high stress and pressure filled. It's interesting to see how all the different characters react to that. I particularly loved my character because the reason I wanted to audition for her part was because she seems so put together but she's kind of flat on the inside. She's heartbroken and lonely. The journey she takes in the film is fascinating and challenging to me.
DE: Do you feel the same kind of pressures because you've been working since you were 17?
KH: I think I feel less pressure than these students particularly because we shoot Dawson's Creek on location in North Carolina so we're all outside Hollywood. Even though we have all these competitors you don't see them at lunch or on the street. You audition for stuff and if you don't get it, it bugs you but you move on.
DE: Every guy in the movie wants to sleep with your character from the recruiter to the cop to her own psychiatrist. As a television star you must get that kind of stuff a lot.
KH: You're kind. Luckily I didn't have to play that too much in the movie. It was kind of revealed through another character speaking about my character. I guess that a lot of boys watch Dawson's and that's nice. I don't get asked out too much because I'm taken [Katie has been dating actor Chris Klein for a few years].
DE: Anti-depressants are offered to your character. What's your take on them?
KH: I know they work for a lot of people.
DE: Have you ever taken them?
KH: No never. They are probably something I shouldn't get attached to.
DE: Is it tough to go from a comfortable ensemble that you've worked with for years on Dawson's Creek to a movie set where you don't know anyone?
KH: I think it's always kind of difficult. Dawson's Creek is so easy. I know everyone. On a movie, it's like starting a new school. You don't know where to sit at lunch. The bond that the four of us have on Dawson's Creek is so strong that when I go off to do other things sometimes I call the other people and check in. I miss them.
DE: In a boxing match who would win, [Abandon co-star] Charlie Hunnam or James Van Der Beek?
KH: Charlie because Charlie will throw that sneaky punch when James isn't looking. He's got a bit more spunk.
DE: In Abandon there was the chance for a nude scene but they went with a bra and panty shot instead. Do you not want to do those anymore because you did that in The Gift?
KH: This movie didn't really call for a scene that needed nudity. It wasn't really something that helped tell the story more.
DE: So you felt in The Gift that it did?
KH: Yes.
DE: Does Dawson's Creek reflect the way you remember high school?
KH: I definitely remember over analyzing a lot of things in high school to avoid working. But these characters are definitely more reflective than I was. They reflect a lot.
DE: You were really funny when you hosted Saturday Night Live. Chris Kattan said that was the best Mr. Peepers sketch ever. How come you don't do more comedy?
KH: I would like to do more comedy. I just haven't had the opportunity. I was so nervous when I was SNL. When he spat the apple on me I was so focused that I didn't want to mess up.
DE: How much longer can Dawson's Creek go?
KH: Don't say it like that [laughs]. We have a six and half year contract so this year will probably be it. I don't want there to be a wedding between any of the characters. I just want to create that feeling of bitter sweetness as you're laughing. I hope that Dawson and Joey finally come together. The longing will be over.
DE: What are you worried about with the show ending?
KH: Well I get to do more stuff. But the negative things are that if a project doesn't go the right way and doesn't score huge at the box office I don't have Dawson's Creek to fall back on. I'm used to being so busy. There's no net.
DE: What directors do you want to work with?
KH: I would love to work with Curtis Hanson again [director of Wonder Boys and 8 Mile]. Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin would be fun.
DE: It's ten years later, what do you say on The E! True Hollywood Story of Dawson's Creek?
KH: Oh look how young we were. Look at how nice our skin was.
DE: Thanks Katie.
She came into the room wearing this very sexy sweater type thing with no shoulders on it. She is just the sweetest person and answered all of our questions. At times when we got to stuff about nudity she seemed to not want to talk about them but she is just as cute in real life as she is on Dawson's Creek. That one dimple is for real apparently.
Check out the website for Abandon
Dan Epstein: What was it like playing a college student in the movie?
Katie Holmes: I really liked playing an elite college student because I think the early twenties are very interesting time for people. A wonderful and hard time. It's a cool world to explore. This particular world we created for Abandon is very high stress and pressure filled. It's interesting to see how all the different characters react to that. I particularly loved my character because the reason I wanted to audition for her part was because she seems so put together but she's kind of flat on the inside. She's heartbroken and lonely. The journey she takes in the film is fascinating and challenging to me.
DE: Do you feel the same kind of pressures because you've been working since you were 17?
KH: I think I feel less pressure than these students particularly because we shoot Dawson's Creek on location in North Carolina so we're all outside Hollywood. Even though we have all these competitors you don't see them at lunch or on the street. You audition for stuff and if you don't get it, it bugs you but you move on.
DE: Every guy in the movie wants to sleep with your character from the recruiter to the cop to her own psychiatrist. As a television star you must get that kind of stuff a lot.
KH: You're kind. Luckily I didn't have to play that too much in the movie. It was kind of revealed through another character speaking about my character. I guess that a lot of boys watch Dawson's and that's nice. I don't get asked out too much because I'm taken [Katie has been dating actor Chris Klein for a few years].
DE: Anti-depressants are offered to your character. What's your take on them?
KH: I know they work for a lot of people.
DE: Have you ever taken them?
KH: No never. They are probably something I shouldn't get attached to.
DE: Is it tough to go from a comfortable ensemble that you've worked with for years on Dawson's Creek to a movie set where you don't know anyone?
KH: I think it's always kind of difficult. Dawson's Creek is so easy. I know everyone. On a movie, it's like starting a new school. You don't know where to sit at lunch. The bond that the four of us have on Dawson's Creek is so strong that when I go off to do other things sometimes I call the other people and check in. I miss them.
DE: In a boxing match who would win, [Abandon co-star] Charlie Hunnam or James Van Der Beek?
KH: Charlie because Charlie will throw that sneaky punch when James isn't looking. He's got a bit more spunk.
DE: In Abandon there was the chance for a nude scene but they went with a bra and panty shot instead. Do you not want to do those anymore because you did that in The Gift?
KH: This movie didn't really call for a scene that needed nudity. It wasn't really something that helped tell the story more.
DE: So you felt in The Gift that it did?
KH: Yes.
DE: Does Dawson's Creek reflect the way you remember high school?
KH: I definitely remember over analyzing a lot of things in high school to avoid working. But these characters are definitely more reflective than I was. They reflect a lot.
DE: You were really funny when you hosted Saturday Night Live. Chris Kattan said that was the best Mr. Peepers sketch ever. How come you don't do more comedy?
KH: I would like to do more comedy. I just haven't had the opportunity. I was so nervous when I was SNL. When he spat the apple on me I was so focused that I didn't want to mess up.
DE: How much longer can Dawson's Creek go?
KH: Don't say it like that [laughs]. We have a six and half year contract so this year will probably be it. I don't want there to be a wedding between any of the characters. I just want to create that feeling of bitter sweetness as you're laughing. I hope that Dawson and Joey finally come together. The longing will be over.
DE: What are you worried about with the show ending?
KH: Well I get to do more stuff. But the negative things are that if a project doesn't go the right way and doesn't score huge at the box office I don't have Dawson's Creek to fall back on. I'm used to being so busy. There's no net.
DE: What directors do you want to work with?
KH: I would love to work with Curtis Hanson again [director of Wonder Boys and 8 Mile]. Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin would be fun.
DE: It's ten years later, what do you say on The E! True Hollywood Story of Dawson's Creek?
KH: Oh look how young we were. Look at how nice our skin was.
DE: Thanks Katie.
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
Shalome said:
anonymouse said:
What happend to her?
Scientology.
she became creepy I'm afraid.