See Katie Run
by Steven McDonald

Who says dreams don't come true? In less than a year, Katie Holmes has gone from singing in high school musicals to starring in Warner Bros. new series Dawson's Creek (only the hippest TV show to hit the small screen since My So-Called Life ).

Ask Katie Holmes just exactly how she managed to change her life from extra-ordinary to fairy-talesque in a matter of months, and the soft-spoken brunette will readily admit she doesn't have a clue. However, judging from what critics are saying about Dawson's Creek, not to mention what they thought of Katie's wicked movie debut in The Ice Storm,some people are bound to claim this Sagittarius was destined to be a star.

"I come from a superathletic family," explains Katie, who grew up the youngest of five in Toledo, OH. "When I was little, I attempted to play basketball and softball, attempted being the key word here. The truth is, I was horrible at sports. I realized it just wasn't my thing, but I had to do something. So I tried going out for parts in the musicals at my school." At 16, Katie attended a modeling and talent convention in New York City where representatives convinced her she could make it big in Hollywood. So off she went, and after her first real audition, Katie landed a part in Storm opposite Elijah Wood, Christina Ricci, and Tobey Maguire.

As if that weren't cool enough, a few months later, Katie sent a videotape of herself to the folks behind Dawson's Creek and landed a lead! And trust us, this show, which airs Tuesday nights on the WB Network, is worth staying home for. As Joey Potter, an angst-ridden 15 year old, Katie has more problems than you and your three best friends combined. Joey's mom passed away from cancer, her dad's in prison for selling pot and her best friend, Dawson (played by the very yummy James Van Der Beek), is so spun out on becoming the next Steven Spielberg, he doesn't even notice that she's developed an excruciating crush on him.

"Joey and I are pretty similar," explains Katie. "We're both kind of tomboys, but she's had more tragedy in her life than I have. I was never the kind of guy who got a lot of attention from guys, so I can relate to the trauma of liking somebody and not having him like you back." Off-camera, Katie's bond with cute co-star James is hardly painful. "There's nothing romantic about it," insists Katie. "We have more of a brother-sister kind of friendship. We pull pranks on each other, that kind of stuff, but I've never thought of him in any other way. We all try to stay professional."

Pretty levelheaded for a rising star, eh? Truth be told, despite all the attention Katie's been getting recently, she's refused to let it go to her head. Her secret for staying grounded? Plenty of contact with her close-knit family and some serious time chilling out solo. "With everything that's going on, it can get pretty hectic," admits Katie, who recently moved into her own apartment near the Dawson's set in Wilmington, NC. "I live above a video store, so I watch a lot of movies. I'm also into my running workout. Running really helps clear my head and makes me feel good, especially when I'm stressed. Lately, I've been doing it several times a week. Nothing long distance or anything, just like three or four miles each time. It's pretty cool." Hey, check it out. On top of becoming a big star, this girl just might morph into an athlete after all.