Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ relationship was one of the most talked-about Hollywood romances of the early 2000s. The pair met in 2005 and quickly became one of the most prominent couples in the entertainment industry. Despite the large age difference, they seemed to be deeply in love, and many fans were rooting for them to make it work. They married in 2006, but by 2012, Holmes had filed for divorce from Cruise, ending the marriage after just five years.
The relationship between Cruise and Holmes was highly publicized from the very beginning. Cruise, a legendary Hollywood actor, had already been well-known for his high-profile romances and marriages, including with Australian actress Nicole Kidman. Holmes, on the other hand, was a young actress who had quickly risen to fame after her role in the hit TV show “Dawson’s Creek.” When the two of them started dating, many were skeptical about the longevity of their relationship, given the 16-year age gap between them.
However, Cruise and Holmes – dubbed TomKat – were determined to make it work. They were frequently seen together in public, and Cruise was known to be extremely affectionate toward Holmes. He famously declared his love for her in a very public way, jumping up and down on Oprah Winfrey’s couch on her show. Despite this, rumors of trouble in the relationship began to surface in the press.
In 2012, the rumors became a reality when Holmes filed for divorce. The proceedings were highly publicized, and rumors surrounding the breakup went into overdrive. Some claimed Cruise’s intense devotion to Scientology was a factor, while others pointed to a difference in maturity. Regardless of the reason, the divorce was finalized in just a few months, and Holmes was awarded primary custody of their daughter, Suri.
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Suri Cruise, Katie Holmes (2009), (James Devaney/WireImage)
In the years since their divorce, Cruise and Holmes have both continued with their successful careers in Hollywood. Cruise remains one of the most recognizable faces in the entertainment industry and has continued to be a major box office draw. Meanwhile, Holmes has focused on her acting career and has also become a successful entrepreneur, launching her own fashion line.
While, ultimately, their marriage was not meant to be, they were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Suri. Born on April 18, 2006, in Santa Monica, California, Suri quickly gained attention from the media due to her famous parents and her stylish wardrobe. As a child, she was often seen in high-end designer clothing and accessories. It was reported that at just 6 years of age, Suri had amassed a wardrobe valued at $3 million. Growing up in the limelight, Suri was privy to a life of luxury and travel, accompanying her parents on the red carpet and visiting numerous countries, including Japan, Italy and Australia.
However, after her parents’ divorce, Holmes reportedly clamped down on the lavish lifestyle her daughter had been enjoying, even going so far as to return any designer items her daughter was gifted. She told the Today Show while she couldn’t give Suri the “gift of normalcy,” she would continue to try.
“The most important thing for me is letting her know how proud I am and her accomplishments mean everything. Whatever I do is whatever. It’s really just about her. That’s what I think is most important,” she said, according to Us Weekly.
As she grew up, Suri continued to be a source of fascination for the media and the public. Many have watched her grow up in the spotlight and are eager to see what the future holds for the privileged young girl.
Suri Cruise (2017), (James Devaney/Getty Images)
It appears Holmes’ efforts paid off as Suri was exposed to a more humble lifestyle in her youth. In 2019, Suri joined her mom on a humanitarian trip to aid refugees in Greece’s Lesbos Island. Holmes shared photos of Suri playing with children at the camp and helping volunteers. She told Stellar magazine, as reported by InStyle, she “enjoy(s) volunteering with my daughter and hearing her point of view and listening to her suggestions on how we can help. It’s important to go and see for myself, and to be part of helping people in any way that I can.”
In Holmes’ quest to make sure Suri does not become a spoilt, rich girl, she sees to it that her daughter keeps up with her chores.
“She does her chores. I think it’s very important… She has to make her bed, she has to take her dishes to the sink, she has to put her clothes in the laundry – you know, that basic stuff,” Holmes told Marie Claire.
Since the age of 6, Suri has also been attending the all-girls Convent of the Sacred Heart Catholic School in Manhattan, the alma mater of celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Nicky Hilton. This means every week, Suri has been attending mass that the school holds every Thursday.
Just as she had been as a child, Suri is often photographed by the media out and about on the streets of New York City. However, gone now are the designer dresses. Instead, the teenager looks like any normal youngster going about their day in distressed jeans and Converse, walking the dog or jumping on a bicycle. We’re happy to see Suri living her best life – even if that means no chauffeured rides or thousand-dollar handbags in tow.
Suri Cruise, Katie Holmes (2020), (Gotham/GC Images)
What do you think about the young woman Suri has grown up to be? Do you feel Katie Holmes went about raising her in the right way? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to pass this along to family and friends.
