It once looked destined to become one of Hollywood’s most enduring romance stories.
Two decades ago, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise exchanged vows in an elaborate, fairytale-style wedding at a 15th-century Italian castle. Yet the glamorous marriage came to an end in 2012, when Holmes filed for divorce. She left the couple’s Beverly Hills estate with daughter Suri and relocated to a modest two-bedroom apartment in New York City, beginning a very different chapter of her life.
Since then, the former Dawson’s Creek star has remained notably private about her split from Cruise. Although she has been linked to Jamie Foxx, Bobby Wooten III and Emilio Vitolo Jr., Holmes appeared to keep her romantic life carefully guarded.
To outside observers — and reportedly even some people close to her — the Ohio-born actress seemed likely to embrace life on her own as Suri, her only child, headed to Carnegie Mellon University for college.
Now, however, Katie Holmes appears to be opening her heart again. The actress has reportedly fallen for Manhattan artist Jason Bard Yarmosky, sharing dozens of affectionate Instagram photos from their recent Lake Como, Italy, getaway, where the pair were seen cuddling together.
While Holmes, 47, has reportedly been dating the 39-year-old painter for just three months, sources say she is already open to the possibility of a more serious future with him.
“Katie would definitely entertain the thought of marrying Jason one day because she is in love and he makes her feel amazing,” a source close to the actress told the Daily Mail. “She is over the moon that she has found a guy who makes her sparkle.”
Katie Holmes is reportedly in love with artist Jason Bard Yarmosky, and sources say she could see herself marrying him in the future.
The actress has been sharing glimpses of her romance with the painter during their Lake Como holiday in Italy this month.
The reported change of heart marks a major shift for the movie star, who was previously said to have no desire to walk down the aisle again.
‘After her divorce from Tom, she pretty much swore off marriage, but these days she is reconsidering. It might happen,’ the source continued.
Her sudden change of thinking comes in part from a recent tragedy in her life when dear friend, Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek, passed away in February from colorectal cancer at the age of 48. She was reminded that life is short.
‘After James died, Katie started to realize she better enjoy the days she has ahead and just live life to the fullest no matter what,’ said the source.
‘She is looking at the glass as not just half full but totally full. It’s like Carpe Diem in fast forward. She wants to have fun, she wants to explore and laugh and love. Here is an example: she loves Italy and was like, “Let’s go there!” That “some day” feeling is today, she is doing what she wants now.’
And Yarmosky is a worthy suitor: he is already an accomplished artist, with his work in galleries in NYC, Los Angeles, Paris and Brussels. His pieces have also been seen in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, San Antonio Museum of Art, Brigham Young University Museum of Art and the Huntington Museum of Art, to name a few.
As far as a wedding to the swarthy artist, the insider said Holmes won’t jump into anything this year. ‘Katie is having a fantastic time, but she is also sensible, so she will wait a year before she makes a big move like marriage,’ they said.
‘With Tom she jumped right in; she had so much confidence in their union, but with Jason she will first make sure they are a very good fit.’
The two seemed to be having the time of their lives in Lake Como recently
Holmes and the painter met in June at a Tribeca Festival event
And if they do wed, there won’t be a massive star-studded ceremony. ‘The next time Katie marries, it will be a small celebration with family and close friends; it won’t be showy,’ said the source.
When Holmes married Cruise in 2006, the wedding took place at Odescalchi Castle in Italy, with high-profile Hollywood guests such as actor Jim Carrey and his then-girlfriend Jenny McCarthy; actress Brooke Shields and her husband Chris Henchy; and singer Jennifer Lopez with her then-husband, singer Marc Anthony.
But in 2012, the couple shocked the world when they announced their divorce after six years of marriage. The split was resolved with surprising speed, with negotiations wrapping up after just 11 days and Holmes getting primary custody of Suri.
‘After she divorced Tom, she totally focused on raising Suri, so she put dating on the back burner,’ said the source.
She wanted to get back to re-establishing her identity away from Cruise, which meant moving to New York City and proving her acting chops in smaller films such as the 2014 movie Days And Nights.
In an interview that year with People magazine, Holmes made it clear she didn’t want to be remembered as one of Cruise’s wives: ‘I don’t want that moment in my life to define me… I was an actor before, an actor during and an actor now.’
In the years since, Holmes has hardly addressed her love life, instead choosing to talk about her hobbies.
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The first and last time she wed was to Tom Cruise in Italy in 2006, left. Also seen right in 2007. Their divorce was swift, with Holmes keeping her love life low profile for years after
‘After she divorced Tom she totally focused on raising Suri and getting back to her career, so she put dating on the back burner,’ said the source. Seen in 2017 in NYC
In 2016, she told More magazine, ‘I don’t have a five- or ten-year plan. I feel like I’m still a teenager in a lot of ways. I do a lot of things I did then. I paint, I color. I cook sometimes.’
And yet, that all seems to have changed with Yarmosky, as he and Holmes have already been in the public eye plenty.
They met in June at a Tribeca Festival event, before going red carpet official in early August. In late August, Holmes took to Instagram to share a photo of one of his works of art as she linked to his Instagram account, making it clear she supports his career.
Earlier this month, she shared a glowing birthday tribute for Yarmosky that included a photo of them cuddling and an image of his birthday cake, writing in the caption, ‘Happy Birthday to the best of the best…’
Then, last Sunday, she shared his 20-photo carousel from their late summer vacation in Lake Como, Italy. His caption read, ‘Life is a friend of art,’ and he linked to his lady love.
The images were atypical for Holmes, who could be seen showing off her toned figure in a white bikini and a low-cut black dress while smiling from ear to ear, clearly in a state of bliss with her new man. They were also seen in bed together.
Even her fans noticed how in love she seemed, with one commenting, ‘Happiness is something you can’t fake, this woman is happy,’ and ‘the soulmate vibes I’m getting.’
Hours later, there was another photo-packed post which featured Yarmosky, in which they cuddled while sitting on a wooden deer and held on to each other during a hike.
On Sunday she shared his photo carousel from their late summer vacation in Lake Como, Italy. The sultry images were atypical for Holmes as she showed off her toned figure in a white bikini
Hours later, there was another photo-packed post with Yarmosky, in which they were seen cuddling while sitting on a wooden deer
Though they have been dating since June, they already look comfortable with one another
According to those close to her, the actress seems like an entirely new person.
‘Katie is really letting her hair down these days because she is enjoying midlife where she has already accomplished so much in her career and she has also done such a great job of raising Suri alone, that she feels in a way all the hard work is behind her and now she can just chill a little bit more,’ a source told the Daily Mail.
Indeed, her career has been doing well as she won raves for her latest dream projects, a film titled Happy Hours, which she wrote, directed and starred in with her ex-boyfriend turned close pal Joshua Jackson, who was also one of her Dawson’s Creek costars.
And 20-year-old Suri seems to be in a great place as she enters her sophomore year at Carnegie Mellon University.
Holmes’ only child has even started to follow in her mother’s footsteps, as last month she made her official stage acting debut in a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream titled Midsummer! at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Holmes and Yarmosky were seen together during New York Fashion Week
What’s next for Holmes? A source said she might work with Yarmosky. ‘Yarmosky might paint Katie, who knows, maybe even in the nude. He is known for painting nudes’
She paints too: Holmes started painting about ten years ago and got more into the hobby during the lockdown from Covid-19. Her painting Peony 2021, is pictured
As for what’s next for Holmes, our insider said she may take on the role of artist’s muse.
‘Yarmosky might paint Katie, who knows, maybe even in the nude. He is known for painting nudes. He is also teaching Katie how to become a better painter,’ said the source.
Holmes started painting about ten years ago and got more into the hobby during the lockdown from Covid-19. Her paintings such as Peony 2021 and Winter flowers 2021 have been displayed on her Instagram page.
‘She is not a bad painter at all, she has talent, and maybe she will do more of that like Sharon Stone has in her later years,’ said the source. ‘It could be a nice side hustle for her.’