Holmes Sweet Holmes
an interview with Kevin Willamson

When Kevin Williamson, writer of the Scream movies and creator of the hit TV show Dawson’s Creek, agreed to guest-edit this issue of YM, he had one demand: "I get to interview Katie Holmes", the 19 year old star of Dawson’s Creek, Disturbing Behavior, and the upcoming Killing Mrs. Tingle. We said fine, as long as he got the scoop on her killer career, love life, and most embarrassing moments. Well, two outta three ain’t bad. Check out this hilarious sparring match between buds Kevin and Katie.

A little back story. My first encounter with Katie Holmes was watching a videotape her mother sent to us. The tape showed Katie in her Ohio basement, auditioning for the role of Joey on Dawson’s Creek. Her mom played Dawson. I’ll never forget the day when, after weeks of searching for the right actress to play the virtuoso role of Joey, we got her tape. After viewing it, everyone in the room was speechless.

My first response was, 'How fast can we get her here?' Unfortunately, she wasn't available. She was starring in her high school production of Damn Yankees. She refused to ditch her classmates to run off to Hollywood to audition. My response? I wanted her even more. Katie Holmes has that quality. That unique combination of talent, beauty, and skill that makes Hollywood come calling. But that’s just the beginning. To meet her is to instantly fall under her spell. She is that rare jewel, the real deal. In one word: hypnotic, smart, funny, sweet, shy, boisterous, sneaky, talented, pretty, soulful, sleek, sophisticated, innocent, naïve, comical, womanly, childish, caring, gracious, dependable, nurturing, protective, generous. I could go on.

Now, with the first season of Dawson’s Creek in the can, we’re sitting on the set of my first movie as a director, Killing Mrs. Tingle, which I also wrote. From the moment I met Katie, I wanted her to play Leigh Ann, the young and smart small-town girl who finds herself in a strange predicament one week before graduation. The situations are a little different, but Katie can relate: Her last week before graduation was spent planning her move to Hollywood. Now, we sit in her trailer eating Jelly Belly jelly beans. She’s partial to Buttered Popcorn, while I stick to my favorites, Green Apple and Hawaiian Punch.

KEVIN: Here we are, Katie Holmes and two pounds of jelly beans. Let the sugar rush begin.
KATIE: Thank you.

KEVIN: This being my first time as an interviewer please cut me some slack. I know you’ve been interviewed a lot lately, and I’ll try to ask some questions that don’t seem too dumb. First up: What’s the stupidest question you’ve been asked by interviewers?
KATIE: That’s a stupid question.

KEVIN: Why do you do this to me? You know I’m nervous and insecure.
KATIE: That’s why. She hits the interviewer playfully.

KEVIN: Let’s start again. And could you answer the question this time?
KATIE: Sure, I was asked, 'If you could be any part of the turkey, what would you be?'Exciting, right? I came up with 'the wishbone.' I don’t know, I tried to be clever, but I don’t think it worked.

KEVIN: What’s the most exciting thing in you life at the moment?
KATIE: I get to do what I love every single day with people whom I have incredible friendships with. Oh, and at this exact moment, these buttered popcorn jelly beans are pretty exciting.

KEVIN: If you could change on thing in history, what would it be?
KATIE: Slavery and its repercussions, racism, prejudice, divided people. Why do I feel like I’m running for Miss America?

KEVIN: If I opened your refrigerator, what would I find?
KATIE: Diet coke, water, and cookie dough.

KEVIN: What book do you have lying by your bed?
KATIE: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

KEVIN: What CDs do you have in your stereo?
KATIE: Well, currently my favorite singer is Sarah McLachlan, so I have a couple of her CDs in my stereo. I also love Tracy Chapman and Frank Sinatra.

KEVIN: What was the last movie you saw?
KATIE: I think it was Titanic. Isn’t that pathetic? I’m so behind. There are so many I want to see. Who am I kidding? It’s pathetic because I’ve seen it about five times.

KEVIN: What’s the one thing you wouldn’t want anyone to know about you?
KATIE: Okay, I’ll just divulge that info to you right now, no problem.

KEVIN: Now for some serious, work-related questions. Let’s start by talking about your new thriller, Disturbing Behavior. What made you want to be in this movie?
KATIE: They hired me! Can I say that?

KEVIN: You can say anything. It was your first lead in a feature film; you had played a supporting role in The Ice Storm. What was the difference between playing your character in Storm and doing a leading role?
KATIE: My character in DB was totally different from anyone I have ever played. She’s the wrong-side-of-the-tracks kind of girl who has experienced so much, and in The Ice Storm, I played a girl who was somewhat innocent. The popular and wealthy girl at school whom everyone was jealous of. On Dawson’s Creek I’m the tomboy who is also rather innocent, so this girl was a chance to explore another side of me.

KEVIN: What was the experience of making the film like?
KATIE: We shot it in Vancouver, and I got to work with one of the directors from TheX-Files. It was exciting; it was kind of a dark story, and we shot a lot of nights, so it was cold and rainy and somewhat miserable. But it was fun. Jimmy Marsden and Nick Stahl were just a pleasure to be around. Jimmy and I got along great.

KEVIN: Did you make friends with most of the people in the movie?
KATIE: I was the only girl. I mean there were other girls that I didn’t really work with, so I hung out with Jimmy and Nick a lot and got the male perspective on a lot of things. I don’t know that I really need the male perspective I got on those things.

KEVIN: For instance? What male perspective?
KATIE: How they view women, dating, stuff like that.

KEVIN: And how did they both view women?
KATIE: I don’t know! They gave me a different answer every time. Sometimes they liked skinny girls and sometimes they liked the shapely ones. It depended on the guy. It’s very frustrating.

KEVIN: Were either of them pranksters?
KATIE: Not pranksters, but Jimmy imitated other people, and he would get these cheesy romance novels off the set and act like they were his, just to crack people up.

KEVIN: What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while filming Disturbing Behavior?
KATIE: There are so many! It was the first time I ever had to do a major love scene. I thought it went okay, but over the next couple of days I heard people say that when the crew saw the dailies they were like, 'Oh it was so funny! After the first take you giggled a whole bunch.' They could see that it showed my immaturity.

KEVIN: Let’s talk about Tingle for a moment. What do you like about the project? The role of Leigh Ann? Be nice.
KATIE: I love playing the role of Leigh Ann because she is the strongest female character I’ve ever played. There are so many factors working against her that she could use as excuses for not reaching her goals. Yet inside, she chooses to overcome her obstacles and achieve her dreams. She’s a fighter. The people I get to work with [on Tingle] are not only exceptional talents but also wonderful, genuine people. What a treat! The writer is kind of weird, but the director is really nice.

KEVIN: Easy. Who are you dating?
KATIE: Next question.

KEVIN: Okay. Name your favorite food.
KATIE: Jelly beans. Do you even have to ask?

KEVIN: And who are you dating? I’m sorry. I missed your answer.
KATIE: Okay, um, cookie dough! Oh, and I really love cookie dough. Did I mention that?

KEVIN: Which character is more like you? You’re the rich princess in The Ice Storm, you’re the lovelorn tomboy on Dawson’s Creek, and you’re the rough and turbulent love doll in Disturbing Behavior. And now, in Killing Mrs. Tingle, you’re playing the overly ambitious A-student.
KATIE: [joking] definitely the princess in The Ice Storm. No, definitely Joey on Dawson’s Creek. I think for TV you need to be close to the character, since you’re doing it every day and for so long.

KEVIN: What’s the difference between working on Dawson’s Creek and working on a major motion picture?
KATIE: When you’re taping a TV series, you have one shot to get the week’s story right. But your character in a film doesn’t grow as much as a TV character grows over the course of a series. Still, film acting is more challenging, because you have more time to make the character a lot different from yourself.

KEVIN: Enough about work. Where are you living now?
KATIE: In a hotel.

KEVIN: You live in a hotel in L.A.?
KATIE: Yep. And I’m going to get a permanent place in Wilmington [NC] because that’s where we shoot Dawson’s Creek.

KEVIN: How often do you get home to Ohio? Are you homesick?
KATIE: In the last year I’ve been back three times: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and in the spring. I do get homesick, but I’m enjoying this new life experience, and who knows how long it’s going to last?

KEVIN: Do you miss Wilmington when you’re not there?
KATIE: I miss the people a lot. I also miss the restaurants. I know that when we go back, the novelty will wear off, being in a small town with not a lot to do.

KEVIN: What do you love the most and hate the worst about L.A.?
KATIE:What I hate the worst is the traffic, the constant commotion, and the high energy, which is draining. What I like the best are the newsstands. I don’t have those in Toledo.

KEVIN:Do you have a lot of time to date, currently, with your busy movie schedule?
KATIE:Yes.

KEVIN: Okay. Thank you for elaborating so profoundly on that question. So whom are you dating?
KATIE: Nice try. Subtle. You know, the way you kinda just slipped it through with the movie stuff.

KEVIN: If you don’t tell me whom you’re dating, I’m gonna create a scandal and tell everyone you’re Leonardo DiCaprio’s love slave and pregnant with his child.
KATIE: That scandal would work in my favor.

KEVIN: You know I know whom you’re dating and could easily slip and spill the beans.
KATIE: And I could easily slip with a little information of my own regarding a certain someone you’ve been caught with.

KEVIN: So. What’s your favorite food?
KATIE: Jelly beans and cookie dough. (We high-five.)

KEVIN: Okay, let’s redirect. What is the most romantic date you’ve ever been on?
KATIE: One time I got caught in a rainstorm with somebody, and we were dancing in the street. It was pretty romantic.

KEVIN: Have you ever made the first move with a guy?
KATIE: Um, let’s just say that I’ve made it known to that person that my feelings for him went past friendship.

KEVIN: What’s the best way to tell a guy you like him?
KATIE: I think the best approach to letting a guy know you like him is totally ignoring him, even though in my last statement I just said to let him know.

KEVIN: Does that advice come from experience?
KATIE: Yes.

KEVIN: How has your life changed in the past year?
KATIE: Well, this whole year has been overwhelming. I graduated from high school, and everything happened very quickly. The opportunity to be connected to a successful TV show has definitely changed my life! I work with people that I never thought I would be able to work with, and I travel and challenge myself at what I like to do.

KEVIN: Is there anything you’d like to share with the YM readers before we sign off?
KATIE: Watch less TV. Read more.

KEVIN: Cut. Print. That’s a wrap.