'We kind of grew up together': Inside Katie Holmes' incredible bond with daughter Suri as she turns 18

Suri Cruise, the daughter of actors Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, is celebrating her milestone 18th birthday this week.

Cruise and Holmes welcomed their daughter in 2006, marrying that same year. The couple divorced in 2012.

Holmes, now 45, was 27 years old she welcomed Suri, and once candidly said she feels like the New York-based pair have "grown up together" over the years.

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Speaking to Elle UK in late 2019, Holmes said: "It's been nice that our ages fit… how do I put this? Every age that my child has been and my age at that time has been a good match. We kind of grew up together."

The Dawson's Creek star has always worked hard to maintain privacy for her daughter - who, naturally, has grown up in the public eye due to her Hollywood star parents - but has in recent years shed some light on their incredible bond.

She recently told Glamour she's been "protective" of Suri her whole life as she was in the spotlight from a young age.

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"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.

"I'm very grateful to be a parent, to be her parent. She's an incredible person."

"Motherhood means everything to me," Holmes previously told People.

"My main goal is to just let her know how much I love her," she has also told the publication.

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In recent years, the First Daughter star has turned to directing – and it's something that has helped her balance the reality of life and being a working, single mother.

But for the star, being a mum and raising Suri has always been her utmost priority.

"My child is the most important person to me, and her upbringing is paramount to my work right now," she told Town & Country in 2017.

"It's very important that I'm present and she has a stable, innocent childhood. I feel so blessed to do what I do, but there's nothing in the world better than watching your child succeed," she added.

About her daughter growing up, Holmes said it's inevitable, but added that it's a little "heartbreaking".

She said when Suri eventually flies the nest, it will be a "very, very sad" moment for her.

On Suri's 15th birthday in April 2021, Holmes penned a sweet tribute post on Instagram to her more than 2.8million followers.

"Happy 15th birthday sweetheart! I love you!!! I can't believe you are already 15!"

That same year, Holmes reflected on motherhood in a sweet Mother's Day post.

"I am so grateful to be a mom to the sweetest daughter. Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms!!!! 💕💕💕💕💕," she wrote underneath a throwback snap of her and her daughter.

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Holmes recently said Suri is growing up to be quite the young fashionista and always gives her style tips.

"She's got a great eye," Holmes told Elle.

"Like today I'm wearing brown suede pants, and she said, 'I don't like your pants.' But then she'll say, 'You've got to wear these shoes.' Or 'That's so pretty, Mum. Wear that.'"

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The actress recently told Variety Suri has seen Dawson's Creek, the show that made her famous, and said it's surreal due to Suri's age now.

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Giving a glimpse inside their home life, she said: "I'm not like, 'You need to watch Mummy's work.'

"But during the pandemic, we had a good laugh about it. It's wild to have a daughter who's almost the same age as I was when I began all this."

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