What Katie Holmes Finds ‘Upsetting’ About Being in her 40s
Actress Katie Holmes has an upcoming movie set to release next month and is preparing to direct her second film, Rare Objects. While the former Dawson’s Creek star has plenty of professional projects, her top priority is being a mom to her 13-year-old daughter Suri from her marriage to superstar Tom Cruise.
Holmes turned 41 years old in December and recently commented on some aspects of aging that don’t top her list of favorites.
With age comes wisdom
In an interview with InStyle, Holmes reflected on her journey as an actress that skyrocketed when she was just out of high school. “When I started, it was about being very mysterious. You were known through your work,” she said. “There was much less attention in the ’90s than there is now, and as a young actress, you just want to get the job. You want to be liked. You want a good take and think, ‘Was I good enough?'”
Now at a more mature stage in life, Holmes has gained more self-assuredness over the years when it comes to her craft. “Over time there’s a transition. I have my own confidence now,” she shared. “I’m not looking for somebody else to say, ‘Good job.’ It’s more, ‘What are we going for?’ It’s more collaborative.”
The former Dawson’s Creek star credits getting older and more seasoned as why she is more confident today. “People say you don’t really know yourself until you’re 40. I’m 41. I have seen things,” Holmes revealed. “I have experienced things. I know what I’m talking about, and I know that my feelings and my insights are worthy. I’m going to listen to myself instead of deferring to someone else. That’s a big step as a human. It takes time.”
Holmes in her 40s
The former Batman Begins star described what she finds challenging about being a 41-year-old woman as opposed to life in her younger days. “I told a friend of mine, ‘You know what’s so upsetting about the 40s? My old tricks don’t work,'” Holmes joked. “I have older siblings; I’m the baby of five. So I was always the cute one, and you get used to being the little cute one. Then you wake up one day…”
Holmes now places a priority on skin care, realizing she requires it more now than in years past. “I’m basically always putting lotion on,” she revealed. “I do all that Barbara Sturm stuff: hyaluronic, face brightening, face cream, skin cream. It’s so vain. But that happens. It kind of hits you.”
While preferring a natural look, Holmes feels times may have changed and she sometimes has to adapt. “It’s very odd. I used to get away with no makeup,” she explained. “When I was a teenager and a young actress, it was about being sort of grungy. Now I’m like, ‘Oh god, I have to do stuff!’ It sounds so superficial.”
Proud mama
Holmes is clearly her daughter’s number one fan, often gushing about Suri’s strength and resilience.
“I love her so much. My biggest goal has always been to nurture her into her individuality,” the actress shared. “To make sure she is 100 percent herself and strong, confident, and able. And to know it. She came out very strong — she’s always been a strong personality. She’ll pick an activity and work her butt off until she’s really good at it… She’s very focused and a hard worker.”
Looking back over her life, Holmes is now grateful for all the twists and turns her path has taken, whether they were a blessing or a challenge.
“I always wanted adventure, and I got it. And I’m still on one. In life you’re supposed to have joy, pain, loss, calm,” she reflected. “We’re not supposed to say, ‘If I could go back, I would want everything joyful,’ because it’s not going to happen. That’s life. Nobody gets off free, and you’re not supposed to. Because then you’re going to miss things.”
Holmes upcoming film The Secret: Dare to Dream is set to be released this year.
