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Katie Holmes at 40: See her best looks, from Dawson's Creek to New York Fashion Week

Katie Holmes turns 40 today. The Ohio native, who kicked off her career playing tomboy Joey Potter on Dawson's Creek and was married Tom Cruise, has enjoyed a steady style evolution over the years. Scroll through our gallery above to see her best looks.

The Dawson’s Creek days

Katie Holmes as Joey Potter and James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery in
Katie Holmes as Joey Potter and James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery in

On screen in Dawson’s Creek, Holmes played tomboy Joey Potter, famous for her flannels and laid-back denim. “Joey was written to be a tomboy,” creator Kevin Williamson says. Directors were close to casting the Cruel Intentions fan favorite Selma Blair, but Holmes went on to win the role.

Katie Holmes wears a plunging floral gown for the premiere of Pieces of April in New York, NY, USA (Getty Images)
Katie Holmes wears a plunging floral gown for the premiere of Pieces of April in New York, NY, USA (Getty Images)

Like all good WB stars, she worked the MTV red carpet and starred in a slew of soapy teen movies, including the underappreciated Teaching Mrs. Tingle. Off screen, she started embracing more glamorous looks, opting for leather and form-fitting red carpet gowns.

The Tom Cruise era

Of course, everything changed - including her personal style - when she infamously linked up with Tom Cruise in 2005. While he hopped on couches for Oprah, she modeled for Miu Miu and even launched her own clothing line, Holmes & Yang. She shuttered the brand she created with her stylist in 2014 to focus on motherhood and acting.

Newlyweds Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise (Getty Images)
Newlyweds Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise (Getty Images)

Their high-profile love affair culminated in their elaborate wedding in 2006, just seven months after their daughter Suri was born. Holmes wore an Armani gown and dramatic veil for the heavily publicized Italian nuptials. Their slightly bonkers love affair was not to last, but if you want a quick recap try E!’s show The Arrangement, based on their romance.

Katie Holmes attends the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party with Tom Cruise (Getty Images)
Katie Holmes attends the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party with Tom Cruise (Getty Images)

The New York years

Katie Holmes in the front row for the Zac Posen fashion show (Getty Images)
Katie Holmes in the front row for the Zac Posen fashion show (Getty Images)

Ultimately, the couple divorced in 2012, and Holmes moved to New York, where she became a NYFW front row fixture. She has since worn a lot of Zimmermann (she also attended their New York store opening), Tory Burch, and Alice + Olivia, a brand that inspired her own fashion line. “Being on the inside gave me a deeper appreciation for the industry, for the really hard work that happens. People don't realize, because great clothes are effortless, but it takes so much time and so much work,” she told Elle earlier this year about her fashion week schedule.

Katie Holmes poses backstage during the Tory Burch (Getty Images for Tory Burch)
Katie Holmes poses backstage during the Tory Burch (Getty Images for Tory Burch)

“Take time to develop different parts of yourself, and your style will come,” the actress says about her own fashion choices - and she certainly has. It helps that Suri is reportedly helping her pick out red carpet looks now.

What’s next…

She might have left her DC days behind, but there's still plenty of nostalgia. She reunited with her former cast mates for a 20th anniversary Entertainment Weekly cover last spring. The reunion led to rumors of a Dawson's Creek revival. Fingers crossed...

There's also a potential wedding in the works. Sources say Katie and her longtime beau Jamie Foxx might marry in Paris sometime soon. They're already living together in New York.

In the meantime, happy birthday Katie!