Katie Holmes on raising her and Tom Cruise’s daughter, Suri

Katie Holmes may keep daughter Suri out of the public eye, but she’s shared rare parenting insights over the years.
The “Dawson’s Creek” alum gave birth to her and Tom Cruise’s baby girl in April 2006, six years before she and the “Mission: Impossible” star called it quits.
Page Six confirmed in March 2023 that the actor remained estranged from his daughter and had “no part” in her life.
24 Read Katie Holmes’ rare parenting quotes over the years. Getty Images
24 The “Dawson’s Creek” alum welcomed daughter Suri in 2006. GC Images
24 Her ex-husband, Tom Cruise, is estranged from their daughter. AFP via Getty Images
Cruise was notably nowhere to be found when Suri celebrated many milestones the following year, including her high school prom and graduation.
He attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour show in London one day after the teen’s ceremony — and she dropped his last name in the event’s pamphlet, going by “Suri Noelle.”
Keep scrolling to read everything Holmes’ has said over the years about raising her child.
Prioritizing parenting
24 The actress was “focused on motherhood” in 2014. Getty Images
24 She called her little one a “spectacular human.” GC Images
Two years after her and Cruise’s 2012 divorce, Holmes posed topless for Glamour and outlined her priorities.
“I am really focused on motherhood and work right now,” the actress said in 2014 when asked about her love life.
She went on to call her love for Suri “overwhelming,” gushing, “Every day I discover more about this spectacular human being I get to be the mother of.”
Single mom status
24 Later that same year, she said she was trying her “best.” AFP via Getty Images
24 Holmes gushed about always letting Suri know how “proud” she was. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images
Holmes spoke to “Today” show viewers about trying her “best” as a single mom to Suri in August 2014.
“I try very hard because I am very grateful for my upbringing and my parents and siblings,” she said at the time. “I try to do what they did for me for my little one.
“The most important thing for me is letting her know how proud I am and that her accomplishments mean everything,” Holmes continued. “Whatever I do is whatever. It’s really just about her and that’s what I think is most important.”
Suri’s sense of style
24 Holmes discussed Suri’s style in 2016. AbacaPress / SplashNews.com
24 She claimed to have had “absolutely” no part in Suri’s fashion sense. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images
Holmes clarified in September 2016 that she “absolutely [does] not” have anything to do with Suri’s fashion sense.
“She has her own [sense of style],” the proud mom gushed to Us Weekly at the time.
She noted that raising a child taught her that “being true to yourself is beautiful.”
Seeking stability
24 Holmes’ prioritized a “stable, innocent childhood” for Suri over her work. TheImageDirect.com
24 She called Suri’s upcoming independence “heartbreaking.” maiajwong/TikTok
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In March 2017, Holmes told Town & Country that Suri comes “paramount” to her work.
“It’s very important that I’m present and she has a stable, innocent childhood,” she explained to the magazine. “I feel so blessed to do what I do, but there’s nothing in the world better than watching your child succeed.”
Holmes went on to call it a “positive thing” that Suri “get[s] a little further away from” her every day despite how “heartbreaking” it feels.
“You want them to stay with you forever, but they’re these amazing beings, and you have to do everything you can to give them what they need — and then they’re going to go,” she noted. “And that’s going to be very, very sad for me.”
Growing together
24 Their ages were a “good match” as Suri grew up. Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix
24 “We kind of grew up together,” the “Kennedys” star explained. TheImageDirect.com
Holmes looked back on “becoming a mom in [her] 20s” in 2019, telling Elle UK that her and Suri’s “ages fit” well together.
She explained, “Every age that my child has been and my age at that time has been a good match. We kind of grew up together.”
The “Kennedys” star insisted she was “happy” about being a young mother.
Hitting the gym
24 Holmes told Shape they “sometimes” work out together. Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Holmes told Shape in November 2019 that she has “never force[d]” Suri to work out with her since that’s “lame.”
She noted, “Sometimes I work out with my daughter. It just depends on the day. … We have our routines, and occasionally they overlap.
“I feel very blessed to have such a special daughter. Being her mom is absolutely the greatest gift and privilege.”
Birthday girl
24 Suri turned 14 in April 2020. TheImageDirect.com
Holmes honored Suri’s 14th birthday with an Instagram tribute in April 2020.
“Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!!!!!! 💕 I am so blessed to be your mom,” she captioned party pics. “May this year be incredible! 💕💕💕💕”
Suri wore a pink-and-white flower crown to the bash, as well as a tie-dye shirt.
Sweet 15
24 Holmes posted a tribute for Suri’s 15th birthday the following year. TheImageDirect.com
Although Holmes rarely posts Suri on social media, she gave a glimpse of the little one on her birthday in April 2021.
“Happy 15th Birthday Sweetheart! I love you!!!!!!!! ❤️💕😘,” she gushed via Instagram. “I can’t believe you are already 15!”
At the time, Holmes posted black-and-white throwback photos of herself and Suri.
Quarantine connection
24 The duo bonded during the COVID-19 quarantine. WireImage
24 GC Images
Throughout the COVID-19 quarantine, Holmes and her daughter watched “Dirty Dancing” together 10 times.
The “Alone Together” alum chatted to Amazing magazine about their typical days in isolation, recalling, “We were also on a lake, and there was a hammock, so I would wake up, sew, have coffee, take a nap on the hammock.
The duo had “fun” together.
Throwback
24 That year, Suri watched her mom in “Dawson’s Creek.” GC Images
24 She said, It’s wild to have a daughter who’s almost the same age as I was when I began all this.” Jamie McCarthy
The mother-daughter pair watched “Dawson’s Creek” together during quarantine and “had a laugh” about it, Holmes revealed to Variety in March 2023.
She clarified that she didn’t tell Suri she “need[ed] to watch mommy’s work.”
Holmes concluded, “I think it’s probably weird since she’s a teenager. … It’s wild to have a daughter who’s almost the same age as I was when I began all this.”
Mama bear
24 In 2023, Holmes spoke about feeling “protect[ive]” of her daughter. GC Images
24 She also talked about “grateful” she is to be Suri’s mom. GC Images
Holmes sweetly called Suri an “incredible person” during an April 2023 interview with Glamour.
“What has been really important for me with my daughter, because she was so visible at a young age, is I really like to protect her,” she gushed.
She added how “grateful” she felt as Suri’s mom.
Vanishing act
24 In 2023, she blamed Suri for clothes “disappear[ing]” from her closet. GC Images
24 She is also saving some items to give to Suri when she’s older. Getty Images for Kering
Suri may have her “own sense of style and expressions,” but that hasn’t stopped the teen from exploring her mother’s closet.
“Sometimes the basics definitely disappear,” Holmes joked to the Sunday Times in June 2024. “But that’s fine.”
She noted that she has “saved some things here and there” to one day give Suri.