Katie turns to Scientology
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Actress Katie Holmes is converting to Scientology for new love Tom Cruise, she said today. The Batman Begins star was raised a Catholic but after just six weeks of dating Cruise she is taking up his religion.
At a press conference for the film, the 26-year-old was asked if she was getting into Scientology.
"Yes, I am, and I'm really excited about it," she said.
The former Dawson's Creek actress has been taking lessons to learn more about the religion.
Scientology is based on the teachings of sci-fi writer L Ron Hubbard and many critics have dismissed it as a cult.
Top Gun star Cruise is a devoted follower - he even erected a Scientology tent on the set of his latest film.
At today's press conference in London, Holmes also spoke out about the doubters who claim her relationship with Cruise, 42, is a publicity stunt.
"It doesn't hurt me at all. There are a lot of people really, really happy for us. It's really exciting. We are so happy. I don't really care about the critics," said the former Dawson's Creek star.
Holmes was said to have turned down a role in Factory Girl, a biopic about Andy Warhol's drug-addicted muse Edie Sedgwick, because Cruise thought it had an anti-Scientology message.
But she insisted: "I declined the role in Factory Girl based on my own decisions about the movie."
Cruise, who kept his private life strictly under wraps where ex-wife Nicole Kidman and former girlfriend Penelope Cruz were concerned, has astonished Hollywood observers with his over-the-top declarations of love for Holmes.
The Top Gun star made a loopy appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, jumping up and down on the sofa and saying the relationship was "beyond cool".
The couple have even refused to deny that marriage is on the cards.
Asked today about a wedding, Holmes smiled: "There's nothing official to report."