Katie Holmes took the spotlight in New York City’s Walter Reade Theatre on Monday night, August 8, for the premiere of her latest film Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, produced and co-written by horror master Guillermo del Toro. We haven’t seen Holmes on the big screen too much as of late, but she’s happy with her role in the new thriller – because she’s not your average scream queen.

“What I love about Guillermo’s writing is that he doesn’t write victims,” said Holmes. “Women are not afraid, they don’t just sit back.” Holmes plays Kim, the girlfriend of an architect played by Guy Pierce, with Bailee Madison playing her daughter.

Del Toro admitted to being a fan of Holmes since her days in Go and Pieces of April, and loves the unconventionality of casting both her and Guy Pierce – whose last film was the Oscars hit, The King’s Speech – in a thriller.

Troy Nixey, who directed the film, explained, “It’s not expected of her to be in this kind of movie, and the same can be said for Guy. They got along like a house on fire. They both like to rehearse.”

Holmes, who has been busy rearing one of Hollywood’s most beloved kids, Suri, with Tom Cruise, had her maternal instincts working for her in the film. “That was one of the bring reasons to bring her on,” said Nixey. “When it came time for her character to turn and see that she needed to be a parent…you actually do believe that this woman cares about this little girl.”

Holmes’ little co-star, the 11-year-old Madison, really took to Holmes while they were filming. “She really took care of me,” said Madison. “When we weren’t screaming and trying to save our lives onscreen we were having dance parties and just getting to bond.” Holmes even took Madison to play and do arts and crafts with her little Suri while they broke from shooting.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is set for U.S. release in theaters on August 26, 2011.

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