Reports are saying that Tom Cruise’s ex-wife no.3 Katie Holmes actually made secret phone calls to ex-wife no. 2 Nicole Kidman, who helped her in the days leading up to the divorce announcement.

As more details emerge detailing Katie Holmes’ super-stealthy plan to divorce Tom Cruise while still getting everything she wants, Holmes really seems like a dispassionate master chess-strategist. Her divorce from Tom Cruise was so masterful, she has closed herself from any and all criticism. She can be as bad an actress as she wants, and people will still remember her cunning long after they forget Dawson’s Creek. For God’s sake, she’s not even above calling Tom Cruise’s other exes for tips on how to divorce the actor properly. That’s where Nicole Kidman comes in. In case you don’t remember, Kidman was married to Cruise for little over a decade and got taken for a ride in their subsequent divorce, reports the Daily Mail. Kidman barely sees the kids she shares with Cruise, thanks to the divorce.

Not wanting to suffer the same fate, Holmes reached out to Kidman for advice. “They’ve spoken over the last few weeks,” a source told Us Weekly. “Nicole has been supportive, saying she’s been through it too and to hang in there.”

The two have apparently been “secret friends” for some time, since Katie’ marriage to Cruise in 2006. “She has been a private friend not many people know about,” the source added. As divorce from Cruise seemed sure in the mind of Katie Holmes, she reached out once again to Kidman for advice stemming from fears over her own daughter, Suri. Kidman has two adopted children with Cruise, but they are estranged.

“Nicole offered her support and help,” the source added.

Do you think that Katie Holmes’ friendship with Nicole Kidman is somewhat awkward, or do girls just have to stick together?

Katie Holmes BFFs With Nicole Kidman? Nicole “Supported” Katie Through Divorce [Report] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise experienced courtship, engagement, their wedding and marriage in the public eye — one only need to look back at the watershed Tom Cruise moment on Oprah when he got all assy by jumping on her couch to recall how truly unusually public their relationship has been.

Katie Holmes managed to, by and large, avoid the fallout from that strange incident, but Cruise’s public persona has never quite shaken the creepiness that was implied by his odd behavior during the time of the Oprah-couch-jumping.

Now Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are ending their marriage of five years — and while the couple are not keeping the media updated as vocally of their split news, it’s still not a massive secret. When news broke that the celebrity couple had split, TMZ reported that Holmes had said the marriage was “irrevocably” broken since at least 2011.

After a couple as high profile as Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise call it quits, the media often looks for clues that suggested an impending marital breakdown. Body language experts come in and analyze photos for gossip sites. Language experts apprise the couples’ recent statements to determine if any telling phrases slipped and gave indication the pair weren’t going to last long.

But sometimes clues are a bit less hidden. Per ABC, Katie Holmes has been working on a project under her own steam — despite the fact many believed the actress was a bit crushed under the jackboot of Cruise and his Scientology pals:

“Next week, Holmes, 33, is scheduled to start production on her new film, ‘Molly,’ about a single mother and her daughter. Holmes co-wrote and is co-producing the film… Holmes, who filed for divorce from husband Tom Cruise last week, is seeking sole custody of their six-year-old daughter, Suri.”

The film is set to star Holmes as… a single mom. Raising a daughter on her own. The flick will be called Molly, the news station says, but won’t be in production for quite a while due to the newly single star’s busy schedule.

Katie Holmes’ Next Film Role is a Single Mom… and She Co-Wrote It is a post from: The Inquisitr

One of the most interesting side-effects of Katie Holmes’ divorce from Tom Cruise is the latest wave of negative media scrutiny stemming from and pointing to the controversial religion of Scientology. If you thought that completely agreeing with Rupert Murdoch on something was the biggest surprise in the media blitz, wait until you hear the chilling warning from one former Scientologist, who says that Katie should be afraid of what might happen to her daughter.

Scientology is a cult. Plain and simple. They say that they are a legitimate religion, and sure, their claims to divinity really aren’t all that more or less crazy than any other. The difference is in method. Intense secrecy, manipulation, coercion, and subtle threats. Jenna Miscavige, the estranged niece of Scientology-pope David Miscavige, says that Katie Holmes has every reason to be afraid of what the church might do to her daughter, Suri Cruise, reports NY Daily.

Prior to her excommunication, Jenna said that she endured forced labor at a Scientology boarding school and spent long periods of isolation from her already excommunicated parents. Scientologists do seem to keep non-believers at arm’s length, but completely and harshly shun those who leave the church. A sympathetic Jenna posted an ominous and pointed warning to Holmes on her website.

“My experience in growing up in Scientology is that it is both mentally and at times physically abusive,” she said in the post. “As a mother myself, I offer my support to Katie and wish for her all of the strength she will need to do what is best for her and her daughter.”

Other former Scientologists have also expressed their concern for Holmes and her daughter, particularly in light of the danger Katie poses to Scientology as an agent of exposure. Former Scientology Inspector General Marty Rathbun, who left the “religion” after suffering physical abuse and solitary confinement in “The Hole,” a management prison set up by Miscavige, admitted, “The two dangers I see are having her child turned against her and people pulling strings behind her back to screw up her career,” of Holmes.

Indeed, divorcing Tom Cruise is one thing, divorcing the church of Scientology is entirely different, notes the Daily Beast. David Bromley, a professor of religion at Virginia Commonwealth University, says that leaving Scientology is no small feat, often involving “burning bridges … and breaking up friendships and families.”

All of this adds to the theory that Scientology is what killed TomKat. Maybe Tom Cruise will wake up and see that for himself someday. Until then, get ready for an ugly fight, Holmes.

Scientology Head’s Niece Warns Katie Holmes: Fear For Your Daughter is a post from: The Inquisitr

Though the divorce of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise surprised the media, fans, and Cruise himself, it’s slowly becoming clearer that it’s been a long time coming in the mind of Holmes herself. In an interview with Elle magazine just six weeks before the divorce announcement, Holmes drops several hints that her marriage to Tom Cruise is about to end, and that she’s already planning what comes next.

“I definitely feel much more comfortable in my own skin. I feel sexier. I think in my 20s, it’s like you’re trying too hard to figure everything out,” Holmes says of life post-30. “I’m starting to come into my own. It’s like a new phase,” she says in an interview set to appear in Elle‘s August issue.

Holmes was 26 when she and Tom Cruise began dating in 2005, notes NY Daily. The interview shows a fiercely independent Holmes, bereft of any clear attachment to Cruise, and full of hope for her future. “He has been Tom Cruise for 30 years,” she said, adding, “I know who I am and where I am and where I want to go, so I want to focus on that.”

In regard to her personal life, Holmes stressed her devotion to daughter Suri – Tom wasn’t really mentioned, and she’s still not really going into any great detail regarding reasons for the split. “(It was) issues raising Suri, different ideas of parenting,” said one source. “They are both very close to her.” Reports have suggested that Scientology is the key difference in how both parents want to raise Suri.

Though any rumors suggesting Holmes stands to gain a fortune from the divorce (hence motivating her to file) should be roundly crushed by now, the actress herself stressed “Things are not handed to anyone,” continuing, “If anything, you work a little bit harder when you’re in such visible circumstances.”

“She’s right… things aren’t handed to anyone,” wrote PerezHilton. “But we’re gonna give her something here — a lot of credit!”

Katie Holmes’ interview and sexy photo-shoot can be seen in Elle magazine when it hits stands in August.

Katie Holmes Hints At Tom-Less Future And Next Steps With Sexy Magazine Photoshoot is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are still at the front-end of what could turn into a really messy divorce and problems are reportedly already starting. According to several sources close to the situation Cruise and Holmes have already completely cut off contact from one another and Katie is making it hard for Tom to speak with daughter Suri Cruise.

Sources tell TMZ that Tom has “absolutely no contact with Katie” but that his team are attempting to negotiate “talk times” for him and his daughter. While Tom Cruise spends a good deal of his time in California, Katie Holmes fled the state for New York City where she is staying with daughter Suri.

Tom apparently speaks with Suri Cruise once a day on the phone but sources close to the actor say it has been hard for him.

The one subject that Tom Cruise and his daughter do not talk about is the ending of her parents marriage, which even for a girl Suri’s age is likely at least a little understood given the huge press the issue is receiving.

In the meantime it is not expected that Tom will see Suri anytime in the near future as he heads off to the Rockies where he is filming his next movie.

At this point people close to Tom Cruise say Katie Holmes has made him “bitter” because she is using Suri as some sort of bargaining “weapon.”

In the meantime Katie Holmes hasn’t blocked Tom Cruise from seeing little Suri, she has just made it extremely inconvenient for him to do so.

Tom Cruise Says Katie Holmes Is Using Suri Cruise As A Weapon is a post from: The Inquisitr

Despite a pending divorce with Tom Cruise, one that is alleged to get quite nasty due to custody rights over daughter Suri, Katie Holmes seems quite happy, laughing over ice cream in New York City with her daughter.

The actress dropped by a NYC ice cream parlor to grab a scoop with little Suri and seemed to be in good spirits despite a tumultuous week of media scrutiny regarding her divorce from actor Tom Cruise. Notes TMZ, it’s the first time we’ve seen Katie Holmes smile since divorce papers were filed in New York, and indeed, probably the first time we’ve seen a good smile from the Dawson’s Creek siren in what… years?

“Katie looked happy and was friendly to the customers and staff while Suri sat on her mom’s lap,” says an eyewitness at the ice cream shop.

The mother/daughter duo, seen for the first time together since the divorce was announced, shared some “ice cream and sweet moments,” according to the Huffington Post, coincidentally stopping by the ice cream parlor on the very day that Holmes’ soon-to-be ex-husband turned 50. They seemed to ignore droves of curious fans studying their every move, and were joined by a few friends and four imposing bodyguards.

The very next day, Holmes and Suri hit the town again, stopping by Whole Foods to pick up what looked like July 4th barbecue supplies, including hamburger meat, buns, strawberries and bananas, reports People.

“I’m alright,” Holmes told a reporter while pushing Suri around in a shopping cart. “Thank you.”

Tom Cruise intended to spend his birthday with Katie Holmes and daughter Suri, but flew to Los Angeles to spend it with his teenagers Connor and Bella instead.

Do you think that Katie Holmes is truly happy?

Katie Holmes Apparently Quite Happy: Laughing, Smiling With Suri Over Ice Cream is a post from: The Inquisitr

Though it was previously thought that Katie Holmes could walk away with $3 million for each year she was married to Tom Cruise, the truth is that she’ll walk away from her 5-year-marriage with little more than she brought into it, thanks to the prenuptial agreement.

The prenuptial agreement between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes completely stonewalls her out of Tom’s massive fortune, but sources close to Holmes say she doesn’t care and isn’t really interested in the money, reports TMZ. The (apparently) incredibly complex prenup has always been stacked in Cruise’s favor, perhaps a lesson learned from the actor’s two previous failed marriages. Reports that Holmes could be walking away with $15 or $20 million for five years of marriage to Cruise are completely unfounded and fanciful. She leaves with what she brought in, and not much else.

“She’s not about the money. She’s not that girl. She loves to work,” says a source close to Holmes.

Of course she’s not about the money. She has plenty of her own. What we at IQ keep trying to tell everyone is that the only thing Katie really wants is Suri. That’s why she filed in New York, that’s why she’s been “planning” this divorce for the past 6 months.

Of course she is asking for child support from Cruise, but that’s hardly a surprise. It could end up meaning huge dollar signs, though. It is fairly common for a prenup to be challenged in divorce proceedings, and Katie’s folks aren’t ruling that out – she probably would if child support and custody were challenged, but not for personal gain. “Money is not that important to her. She makes plenty on her own,” her people continually insist.

Cruise is currently shooting in Iceland, and hasn’t said much about the divorce, except that he felt “blindsided” by it. He hasn’t even formally filed a response to the divorce, notes RadarOnline.

How is Suri doing?

“Tom has been working nonstop and he shows no sign of slowing down. And when Tom works, he takes months to prepare and pulls long hours. The crying is indicative of what’s going on. I can’t say whether Tom is there emotionally, but physically he’s been absent. Suri’s been crying a lot because of it,” explains a source.

Let’s not forget: in any divorce, no matter who wins, the kids always lose.

Do you think Katie Holmes will still make out with a nice chunk of change?

TomKat Prenup Guarantees Katie Holmes Walks Away With Next To Nothing is a post from: The Inquisitr

Update regarding the Katie Holmes divorce from Tom Cruise: the actress claims that the marriage was already over as of 2011.

Holmes says that her marriage to actor Tom Cruise was “irretrievably” broken 6 months prior to filing for divorce in New York City, reports TMZ. A picture is worth a thousand words, and that one up top is Tom and Katie taking a stroll a few weeks ago in Iceland. You can’t see it, but they are walking hand-in-hand. One look at that picture, and maybe one can understand why Holmes was so surprised that Tom was “blindsided” by the divorce filing. Cruise said he had “no idea” Holmes would file, but honestly, looking at that picture? I suppose anyone could have gotten that idea had they been looking closely.

The Dawson’s Creek actress also has a big custody battle coming up. Even though the former-couple shared a Beverly Hills home, Holmes has been trying to establish residency in New York. It’s also why she filed there – New York courts are likely to give her a better shot at full-custody over Suri, notes the NY Post.

Cruise’s desire to fully indoctrinate Suri in the ways of Scientology was reportedly Holmes’ breaking point. She was afraid that he would send the 6-year-old to Scientology’s hardcore elite Sea Organization where apparently “Kids as young as five can be sent to live [at Sea Org] … without their parents,” according to the group’s website.

Holmes was frightened of what might happen to her daughter there after seeing what it does to people first hand. Reports TMZ, “When Holmes and Cruise first hooked up in 2005, Jessica Feshbach, a prominent Scientologist who had been with the Sea Org since 1994, was transferred and became Katie’s assistant/Scientology chaperone. Feshbach, in one of Katie’s first interviews after getting together with Cruise, was described by a writer for W magazine as ‘cold-eyed’ and ‘a third-wheel.’ ”

Are you surprised by Katie Holmes’ revelation that her marriage to Tom Cruise “ended” last year?

Katie Holmes: Tom And I Were Done Last Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s the question on everyone’s lips right now. Why is Katie Holmes divorcing Tom Cruise? Though the actress and mother to the couple’s only child, Suri, has maintained her privacy (for now) regarding her reasons for divorce (even from Tom), from what little we know, we can make a few guesses.

Sources connected to the couple say that Scientology played a major role in Katie’s decision. According to TMZ, “Katie has never been fully committed to Scientology, even though she has had ties with the church,” and that “the couple had been arguing over Suri — that she’s now of the age where Scientology becomes a significant part of her life,” with Katie fearing that Tom would drag her too deeply into the church.

CBS News speculated other reasons as to why what was once considered one of Hollywood’s strongest marriages could fall apart so easily. Addressing whether or not suggestions that Katie Holmes is trying to wiggle out from under Cruise’s shadow, celebrity divorce attorney Raoul Felder said, “Well sure, but everybody who’s watching this thing has to believe that this has been dead for quite some time. This is an internment, it’s not a death, these people, this marriage has died some time back.”

It was then suggested that perhaps Katie Holmes has been sticking it out for the money – reports are saying that Katie could walk away with a cool $3 million for each year she was married to Cruise. Though Felder admitted that it was possible, he said that “the real question” is “why did she pick New York to sue for divorce?” continuing, “the only sensible reason, I think, is we have a very strong privacy law.”

Money is actually very rarely brought up in this case, because the evidence just isn’t all there (thus far) to suggest that Holmes is only in it to walk away with a million-dollar nest-egg. The New York divorce filing is something that TMZ picked up on as well – though it definitely creates some tax problems for Cruise, again, it has less to do with money…

…and more to do with custody.

In short, Cruise hates NYC because taxes are so high, and he has made calculated moves to avoid creating a paper trail showing any residency there. He had an apartment in the city, but transferred the deed into his wife’s name so that he could avoid the residency taxes. So since August, Katie Holmes has been establishing residency In New York – specifically for the purposes of divorce. Why New York? Because New York Courts are more likely to grant Holmes sole custody than California courts.

She wants out of Tom’s life. Forever.

The more that comes out about this divorce, the more it sounds like Not Without MyDaughter, a pretty good 1991 Sally Field movie about an American woman who patiently calculates her escape from her abusive husband in Iran, though she has to make sure both she and her daughter can be free of him forever.

Your turn. Why do you think Katie Holmes wants a divorce and sole custody of Suri?

TomKat Divorce Update: Possible Reasons For The Split is a post from: The Inquisitr