Katie Holmes reveals she almost gave up acting at 17 when the job ran out after her first film role

‘I wasn’t really getting anywhere’: Katie Holmes reveals she almost gave up acting at 17 when work dried up after her first role in The Ice Storm

Katie Holmes nearly gave up acting at the age of 17 when the job dried up after her first film role.

The 44-year-old actress landed her first acting job in Ang Lee’s 1997 film The Ice Storm, but after it ended, she struggled to get more work and feared her career would be over after just one film.

Speaking during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, he explained: “Well, I was 17 and I remember we came to New York, me and my mom, we filmed and I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I want to do. Big.

Perseverance pays off: Katie Holmes almost gave up acting at the age of 17 when the job dried up after her first film role

“And then I went home, and I was recording myself for different auditions, and I wasn’t really getting anything and I thought, ‘Oh, well, that could be it. You know. That might be all there is.”

“But it was okay, because I was like, ‘You know what, it’s okay. It was an amazing experience. And I can, like, tell my grandkids and I’ll be fine.’

Host Jimmy then asked, ‘Were you happy with that?’

Katie responded, ‘Well, I mean, I wanted more jobs, but I was like, ‘Don’t be, you know, greedy.’

First film role: The 44-year-old actress landed her first acting role in Ang Lee's 1997 film The Ice Storm (pictured), but after it ended she struggled to get more work

First film role: The 44-year-old actress landed her first acting role in Ang Lee’s 1997 film The Ice Storm (pictured), but after it ended she struggled to get more work

Breakout role: The actress didn't give up and landed the role of Joey (left) in the teen drama Dawson's Creek, which propelled her to international stardom.

Breakout role: The actress didn’t give up and landed the role of Joey (left) in the teen drama Dawson’s Creek, which propelled her to international stardom.

He recalled that he was “lucky” to get the film role in The Ice Storm because he went to Los Angeles to audition for the pilot season and got the job on his second day.

Katie said: ‘It was my second day in LA and my first audition. I was lucky.’

After her work dried up after The Ice Storm, Katie didn’t give up and landed the role of Joey in the teen drama Dawson’s Creek, which propelled her to international stardom.

Talent: Katie has starred in movies like First Daughter in 2004, Batman Begins in 2005 and The Extra Man in 2010 (pictured Tuesday night on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon)

Talent: Katie has starred in movies like First Daughter in 2004, Batman Begins in 2005 and The Extra Man in 2010 (pictured Tuesday night on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon)

The actress appeared on the show for six seasons over five years alongside Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, and Joshua Jackson.

Since then, Katie has starred in movies like First Daughter in 2004, Batman Begins in 2005, and The Extra Man in 2010.

He also appeared on TV shows like How I Met Your Mother and wrote and directed his second movie Alone Together in 2022.

Fame: Katie (center) starred on the show for its six seasons over five years (pictured with co-stars LR Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, and Joshua Jackson in 1998)

Fame: Katie (center) starred on the show for its six seasons over five years (pictured with co-stars LR Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, and Joshua Jackson in 1998)