From Warner Bros:
Exuding a preternatural maturity both on and off the screen, Katie Holmes is a captivating
newcomer to the acting business, landing major roles both in film and on television with
just a handful of auditions.
Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Holmes started acting in theater productions in high
school, but didn't think she had a shot at stardom living in the Midwest. Fate intervened when
she was attending a national modeling and talent convention in New York City, and she met a
talent manager who encouraged her to come to Los Angeles for television's pilot season.
On her very first professional audition, Holmes dazzled the casting director for the
acclaimed feature film "The Ice Storm." Directed by Ang Lee ("Sense and Sensibility"),
the Fox Searchlight release won the screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival and
starred Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Elijah Wood and Joan Allen. The slice-of-life art
house film about the sexual revolution of the 1970s featured Holmes as the love interest
of Toby Maguire.
When the next pilot season came up during her senior year of high school, Holmes opted to
skip coming out to Los Angeles to perform in her school's production of "Damn Yankees"
as Lola. For the "Dawson's Creek" audition, she sent in a videotape from Toledo, and
when the call back conflicted with her play's opening night, she declined rather than let down
her classmates. Fortunately, the producers were able to reschedule her audition and
she landed the series regular role of Joey Potter.
From The Internet Movie Database Ltd: Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. Katie Holmes acted in High School theatre productions before meeting a manager who encouraged her to go to LA for television's pilot season. She won a part in the acclaimed feature film "The Ice Storm" in her very first audition, but she didn't stop there. A videotape was sent to "Dawson's Creek", a new production by the acclaimed writer Kevin Williams (I) (Scream (1996), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)). Which landed her to the series regular role of Joey Potter.
From Columbia TriStar:
Nineteen-year-old Katie Holmes possesses an exceptional maturity much like Joey Potter, the
character she portrays on DAWSON'S CREEK.
Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Holmes began acting in high school theater productions in
spite of a personal belief that acting careers couldn't be sustained living in the Midwest.
"Toledo is a bit bigger than Capeside [the fictional location of DAWSON'S CREEK], but there are
similarities," she says. "I'm a small town girl just like Joey. I wasn't the one that had the
boys in high school. I was a little bit of a tomboy and also the youngest in my family, so I
thought I knew everything. Like Joey, I made a lot of mistakes, but fortunately, I haven't had
the tragedy that she's experienced in her life."
Her character, Joey Potter, is something of a tomboy. As Holmes explains, "Joey is a 15-year-old
girl that uses a tough attitude as a guard because she's been through so much. She's been hurt
so many times that she doesn't want to be vulnerable and put herself out there for everyone.
She has to be tough. She lost her mom [to cancer] and her dad's in prison. She doesn't have the
best reputation in town because she lives with her sister, Bessie, her black boyfriend,
Bodie and their baby. Her relationship with Dawson has been the only stable thing in her life,
and now it's beginning to change."
The stability and importance of friends played a significant role in Holmes' life as well
when she chose to honor her commitment to friends and classmates by performing in the school
production of "Damn Yankees" rather than go to Los Angeles on a callback from the producers and
casting agents for DAWSON'S CREEK. Fortunately, the producers were able to reschedule the
audition and Holmes won the role of Joey Potter.
A captivating newcomer to the entertainment world, Holmes has experienced incredible success,
landing major roles in both feature films and television projects while participating in
only a handful of auditions. Her very first professional audition resulted in a plum
role in the award-winning film, "The Ice Storm," directed by Ang Lee ("Sense & Sensibility").
The film, which recently won the screenplay award from the Cannes Film Festival, stars
Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Elijah Wood and Joan Allen and depicts the sexual revolution
of the 1970s. Holmes was busy shooting three films during her hiatus following the first
season of DAWSON'S CREEK, including "Disturbing Behavior," co-starring Nick Stahl; "Killing
Mrs. Tingle," which marked Kevin Williamson's directorial debut; and "Go!" directed by Doug
Liman ("Swingers").
Having graduated from high school, Holmes is now living in Wilmington, North Carolina
while working on DAWSON'S CREEK.
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