Katie Holmes has opened up about being protective over her daughter Suri, with the teenager being subject to intense media scrutiny following her parents’ divorce.
Katie, 44, who shares Suri with ex-husband Tom Cruise, 60, has spoken out about her daughter growing up in the public eye and being the subject of the paparazzi throughout her childhood.
During her recent interview with Glamour magazine, Katie said: “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.”
The Dawson’s Creek star said she was ‘grateful’ to be the 16-year-old's mother, stating: “She’s an incredible person.”
The media attention that Suri received while growing up was thanks to her parents’ unconventional relationship, which ended in 2011.
Following the couple’s divorce, Tom distanced himself from his daughter, with their relationship reportedly yet to recover.
Page Six reported that the actor is no longer a part of his daughter’s life and has not been in contact with her for a very long time.
Katie was granted full custody of Suri following her divorce from Tom, with the mother and daughter now living in New York City together. Tom reportedly agreed to pay Katie $400,000 a year in child support until Suri turns 18. He also reportedly agreed to pay all of Suri's expenses, including "medical, dental, insurance, education, college and other extracurricular costs".
However, he hasn't been publicly seen with his daughter since 2012.
A source told the Daily Mail: "Suri does not know her father anymore and she has not spent time with him in a decade. She does not go to see his movies and he has no part in her life."
The Top Gun actor previously admitted that being a part of the Church of Scientology was partly why he had distanced himself from his daughter’s life.
Upon being asked whether Katie had ended their relationship “in part to protect Suri from Scientology,” he responded at the time, “That was one of the assertions, yes.”
Katie is alleged to dislike and distrust the church, despite Tom's enthusiasm.
At the time it was understood Katie filed for divorce in New York because it could have given her a better chance at gaining sole custody of Suri.
The actress sought full custody so she could remove her daughter from the Church of Scientology, who was reportedly attending a Scientology-influenced school in California at the time.
