In August 2014, Katie Holmes joined Taylor Swift on the red carpet for the New York premiere of the American dystopian drama film The Giver.
Directed by Phillip Noyce and featuring a star-studded cast, the film is based on Lois Lowry’s 1993 young adult novel of the same name that you can buy on Amazon.
Katie Holmes looked stunning in a Zac Posen dress featuring a shallow V-neck, a bustier-style bodice, and a cape-style back, which added a unique touch to her look (Credit: WENN / Dan Jackman / Michael Carpenter / Andres Otero)
The Giver: A Cinematic Adaptation
In a society where emotions, pain, and history have been erased, citizens are assigned roles and partners by the community. The protagonist, Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), is selected as the Receiver of Memory, a position that exposes him to the hidden truths of the past. Guided by the current Receiver, Jonas uncovers the deep-seated pain and joy that once existed, ultimately leading him to challenge the rigid rules of his society.
In the film adaptation of The Giver, Brenton Thwaites, who portrayed the protagonist Jonas, was 24 years old—twice the age of Jonas in the original novel.
In addition to Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift, the movie stars Brenton Thwaites, Odeya Rush, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgård, Cameron Monaghan, and Emma Tremblay.
Actors Brenton Thwaites, Katie Holmes, Odeya Rush, Taylor Swift, and Cameron Monaghan attend “The Giver” premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on August 11, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock)
Star-Studded Cast and Age Details
When The Giver opened on August 15th, 2014, Jeff Bridges was 64, Brenton Thwaites was 25, Odeya Rush was 17, Meryl Streep was 65, Alexander Skarsgård was 37, Katie Holmes was 35, Cameron Monaghan was 20, Taylor Swift was 24, and Emma Tremblay was ten years old.
Jeff Bridges’ Passion Project
For nearly twenty years, Jeff Bridges has been working to bring the film adaptation of “The Giver” to life, even filming a version with his family.
Alexander Skarsgård and Katie Holmes play the parents of Jonas in the 2014 American dystopian drama film The Giver (Credit: The Weinstein Company)
“I originally wanted to direct my father in it. As a matter of fact, somewhere in some garage, there is a version of this movie with my father (Lloyd Bridges) playing The Giver, Bud Cort narrates the whole thing, Beau’s kids, one is shooting it, one is playing Jonas. We did the whole book, so that’s around somewhere,” he revealed on the Nerdist Podcast.
Taylor Swift as Rosemary and Jeff Bridges as The Giver in the film is based on a 1993 young adult novel by Lois Lowry (Credit: The Weinstein Company)
Casting Choices and Challenges
Katie Holmes plays the mother of Brenton Thwaites’s character despite being only ten years his senior. This casting choice fits the story as the families in the film are assembled by the state and not connected biologically.
The role of Rosemary was offered to Taylor Swift just a week after her Los Angeles concert, where she was unaware that the film’s creators were in the audience.
Actress Katie Holmes says playing the role of a mother in a world where emotions are controlled by medicine in the film The Giver was a great challenge for her (Credit: WENN / Dan Jackman / Michael Carpenter / Andres Otero)
“It was challenging and Phillip was reminding us not to touch each other, which I find to be something you just do naturally as a mother and as a human being,” Holmes said about her role at a New York press conference.
“That was one of the things. But I just approached it as a mother whose child is leaving the nest. That’s what kind of made the character real to me. It was interesting to play someone who has no emotion, yeah.”
Premiere Night Fashion
At the premiere of The Giver, the 35-year-old Katie Holmes looked stunning in a pleated chiffon dress from Zac Posen’s Spring 2014 collection, featuring a bustier-style bodice, a shallow V-neck, and a cape-style back.
Katie Holmes in a Zac Posen dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry (Credit: WENN / Dan Jackman / Michael Carpenter / Andres Otero)
She accessorized with pink Lorraine Schwartz jewelry. Fashion critics loved her makeup and dress, but Katie did not impress anyone with her choice of shoes.
Fashion Highlights from the Premiere
Taylor Swift wore a dress designed by Monique Lhuillier paired with Casadei shoes, Brumani earrings, a ring and band from Sylva & Cie, and a band from Sethi Couture.
Katie Holmes, Odeya Rush, and Taylor Swift at the premiere of The Giver at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on August 11, 2014 (Credit: WENN / Dan Jackman / Michael Carpenter / Andres Otero)
Exploring Zac Posen’s Designs
Do you like how Katie Holmes styled her Zac Posen dress? Below is another recent dress design from the popular American fashion designer who became famous as a judge on the reality show Project Runway.
Zac Posen Jersey Halter Gown, $2,990