At the convention, a talent scout from Los Angeles approached Katie Holmes and encouraged her to spend the rest of the summer in California auditioning. Katie Holmes was off to Hollywood with her mother to try her luck at acting, despite her father's original skepticism.

Luck was definitely on Katie Holmes' side, since her feature film debut took no more than one audition. Inexperienced and tinged with a drop of naiveté, she was cast in The

After filming The Ice Storm, Katie Holmes returned to Toledo in order to complete high school. Katie Holmes was apparently offered the role of Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but luckily for Sarah Michelle Gellar, Katie Holmes declined in order to graduate high school. With a film credit and a newfound passion, Katie Holmes dedicated her summer to starring in a local theatre production of Damn Yankees. That's when Katie Holmes heard a rumor that Kevin Williamson of Scream fame was casting actors for his television teenage drama.

With nothing to lose, Katie Holmes sent in her home video audition and hoped for the best. And that's what the Dawson's Creek screenwriter/producer saw when he watched her tape: the best. Fully impressed by what he saw, Williamson immediately invited Katie to come to the West Coast for a callback, but due to her commitment to Damn Yankees, she asked Williamson whether the offer could be postponed to a later date.

Obviously worth the wait, he rescheduled so that Katie Holmes could attend. Williamson didn't need acting experience credits to convince him that Katie Holmes was right for the part of Joey Potter for Dawson's Creek. Katie Holmes was immediately cast as the girl from the wrong side of the creek in the series that was garnering rave reviews even before its premiere.

Viewers have been tuning in to Katie Holmes and the high school drama since 1998, watching the cast of angst-ridden teens (which also includes pouty-lipped Michelle Williams) deal with teenage life.

Based on the success of Dawson's Creek and its popularity among teens, Katie Holmes was cast in the thriller Disturbing Behavior in 1998. The following summer, Katie Holmes could be seen in theatres in two feature films; Go, and as the heroine in Teaching Mrs. Tingle (also directed by Kevin Williamson).

While still roaming the halls of high school in Dawson's Creek, Katie Holmes appeared in Wonder Boys, starring Michael Douglas and her Ice Storm co-star, Tobey Maguire.

Winner of the 1999 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Female Performance, Katie Holmes was also voted one of Teen People Magazine's "21 Hottest Stars Under 21" and Sweden's Expressen Fredag's "Babe of the Year" in 1998.

Trivia

• Favorite Movies: "My Best Friend's Wedding", "Pretty in Pink", "Sixteen Candles"
• 1st Movie She Ever Saw: "ET" at a drive-in
• Favorite TV shows: "Party of Five", "ER"
• Favorite Actors/Actresses: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Jodie Foster
• Favorite Directors: Woody Allen, Ron Howard, Oliver Stone
• Favorite Musicians: Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman, Frank Sinatra, Jewel, The Dave Matthews Band, Natalie Merchant
• Favorite Books: David Guterson: "Snow Falling on Cedars", Kate Chopin: "The Awakening"
• Favorite Activities: Dancing, Running, Watching movies, Reading, Listening to music
• Favorite Foods: Jelly Bellies, Cookie dough, Buttered popcorn, Veggie burgers, Onion rings
• Favorite Drinks: Vanilla latte, Diet coke
• Fantasy Role: "I'd like to do some lush, romantic period piece where I get to wear gorgeous costumes. That would be really sexy."
• Fantasy Date: Leonardo DiCaprio
• Thoughts On Fans: "It's flattering when 13 year olds come up to me. I was the same way. I guess I still am… But it's kind of scary when other 19 year olds look at me funny because they've seen me on TV. I want to say, 'I'm normal. I'll be your friend. Be my friend.'"