Katie Holmes, born Kate Noelle Holmes on December 18, 1978, in Toledo, Ohio, is an American actress and producer. She is the youngest of five children in her family, and her early interest in performing arts led her to attend modeling school as a teenager. Holmes' acting career began with her role in Ang Lee's film "The Ice Storm" (1997), where she played Libbets Casey. Her breakthrough came with the role of Joey Potter in the television series "Dawson's Creek" (1998-2003), which established her as a household name. During her time on "Dawson's Creek," Holmes also appeared in films such as "Disturbing Behavior" (1998) and "Go" (1999), earning the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Female Performance for the former.

Holmes' film career includes notable roles in "Wonder Boys" (2000), "Batman Begins" (2005), and "Thank You for Smoking" (2005). She has also ventured into directing and producing, with projects like "All We Had" (2016), which she directed and starred in. Holmes continues to be active in the industry, with recent projects including "Rare Objects" (2023), which she directed and starred in, and "The Watergate Girl" (2024). Known for her versatility and dedication to her craft, Holmes remains a prominent figure in Hollywood.