Katie Holmes believes that being a mother helped her in her new role in horror movie Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.
The Guillermo Del Toro produced project sees Holmes team up with Guy Pearce as the film follows a little girl who is terrorised by the house that she lives in.
Holmes reveals that being a mother helped her understand her character and her desire to protect this child.
Speaking to Reuters the actress said: "I think being a mum myself, when I read my character and I saw the journey she takes and how we see her make sacrifices for her child - I think I didn't understand that until I became a mum.
"Just how much you love this person - you will do anything for that person, and you have strength you didn't know that you had, which is what I like about my character."
"So I think that being a mum definitely gave me much more insight to this character."
Holmes has moved between movies and TV so far this year as she played Jackie Kennedy in TV series The Kennedys.
She has already completed filming on comedy Jack and Jill, which also stars Adam Sandler.
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is released 7th October.
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