Actress Katie Holmes offered fans a glimpse into her past this week, marking her 47th birthday by sharing a rare childhood portrait on Instagram.
A Blast from the Past on Instagram
The star, best known for her role in Dawson's Creek, posted the throwback image on Thursday. In the charming photo, a young Holmes sports a shoulder-length bob with blunt bangs. She wears a patterned turtleneck under a pair of overalls featuring an embroidered heart at the centre, scowling adorably for the camera.
Alongside the snapshot, she expressed her gratitude, writing: 'Thank you to my beautiful family and friends for the wonderful birthday wishes.' She concluded her caption with a red heart emoji, adding: 'I am so grateful for this past year full of creativity, joy, and love. Thank you to all!'
Striking Resemblance to Daughter Suri
The childhood image immediately drew comparisons to Holmes' daughter, Suri Noelle Cruise, who is now 19 years old. The resemblance between mother and daughter is striking, with Suri often described as her mother's 'mini-me'.
Holmes shares her only child with ex-husband Tom Cruise, 63. The couple were married for six years before Holmes filed for divorce in 2012. At the time, reports indicated her primary motivation was concerns over their daughter's wellbeing and a desire to distance Suri from Cruise's controversial involvement with the Church of Scientology.
Holmes was granted primary custody, with Cruise paying child support until Suri turned 18. Despite their estranged relationship, it is reported that Cruise pays Suri's $65,000-per-year college tuition at Carnegie Mellon University, where she is currently a sophomore, along with medical, dental, and insurance expenses.
Life as an Empty Nester
With Suri away at university, Holmes has recently spoken about adjusting to life as an empty nester. In August 2024, Suri moved away to begin her studies, prompting Holmes to reflect on this new chapter.
'I'm proud of my daughter. Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I'm really proud of her and I'm happy,' Holmes told Town & Country magazine last year. She added, 'I remember being this age, this time of beginnings. It's exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that.'
The mother-daughter duo share a notably close relationship, in contrast to Suri's reported estrangement from her father. This distance has been publicly hinted at on several occasions:
- Suri opted to use only her first and middle name, Suri Noelle, during her high school graduation.
- She also reportedly dropped the Cruise surname on the casting sheet for her senior year play, The Addams Family: A New Musical.
A source close to the family commented on Suri's maturity to DailyMail.com in June 2024, stating: 'She is a smart girl, and she is turning into a very intelligent mature young woman. She has a very close group of loyal friends, and she knows exactly where she comes from.'
