Prior to the film's release, we caught up to Katie Holmes at the Mad Money press junket in Santa Monica where Katie let loose on her latest role, working with Diane Keaton, what it's like to be a mother, and how she deals with life in the public spotlight.

Katie Holmes on developing her character with Callie Khouri:

"Well, we collaborated [on] the character but there were certain things that - you’re always trying to find things about a character that you can create upon and you read between the lines and you say, 'Oh what, - what is she really like? Who is this person?' So anything, any clue in the script you run with, and that’s the joy of creating a character, and you get to do that. It makes them alive. That's what I was doing."

Holmes on whether her character jumped out at her from the beginning:

"Yes, it did. It was very different than anything that I done before and I liked this person. She was out there and wild, but she had this adventure spirit and she really wanted more out of her life. And I like people like that, that are seeking something else and yet still surviving where they are and working towards it. So that was really appealing, and also working with Diane [Keaton] and Dana [Queen Latifah] and Callie, and it was great to be a part of a comedy and a comedy with women."

On whether she had a job where she was invisible to others in the world:

"No, I had my own lawn service when I was growing up. I cut my mom's friend's grass. But I never felt invisible because my mom, who is the best mom in the world, we had a station wagon, and I convinced her to drag me and the station wagon, and the lawnmower. God forbid I had to walk too much. It was great fun - lawnkeeper of the neighborhood."

On having her family visit her on-set:

"I loved having my husband and daughter on the set... Tom [Cruise] was really excited for me to do this movie and it was great. It was great fun and I had never had that experience, obviously, of having a young one at work with me and it just made it even better. It made it more fun, and you're suddenly doing this thing you've always loved but you're thinking about these other things, and it's more fulfilling. So I really, really enjoyed it, and then all the paparazzi - it was fun!"

Holmes on whether she's able to block out the paparazzi:

"No, I mean you're always aware of it. You're always aware of it. I just wanted to make sure that everybody - the set was being taken care of, and it wasn't bothering anybody else because, you know, I get used to being aware. And you just want to protect everyone around you."

On flying in pizza from Chicago:

"I like food. I like food in a lot of different cities. I have my favorites and it really gives me pleasure to share that with people and watch their reaction. And I want them to like it as much as I do. And they did. I called up Giordano’s in Chicago. They send dry ice... I am from Ohio, I am a Midwestern girl, and I also like food. We have eaten in restaurants all over and so we were constantly talking about, 'Oh, the club-sandwich in this hotel,' and I never forget a good meal and I think about it often."

Katie Holmes on whether she was in awe of Diane Keaton:

"Most definitely. I was so honored to work with these women. I have been a fan of theirs. They are so intelligent and so professional. It was so much fun, then when it was time to work. It was really exciting and inspiring and better than I imagined. These women are so dynamic. The conversations went from children to architecture to interior."

Holmes on being a mom:

"I love being a mom. It is such a gift and something that I really cherish and I treasure. I feel so lucky to have this life. I love being a working mom. I think it is a wonderful balance. It is very adventurous. Every day is different. That is what I always wanted."

On the magic of watching Suri begin to communicate with her:

"It is so exciting. The changes that occur minute to minute are astounding. I feel like such a cliche, but it does happen so fast. Everybody tells you that, but it really does. They grow so quickly. It is so beautiful. Tom and I just sort of stare. We put her to bed and then we just talk about her. It’s incredible."

Katie Holmes on how her life has blown up in the last couple of years:

"I am not sure. I have a very big life. But I have been taught by someone who has had a big life for 25 years. And I get to meet a lot of very interesting people and have conversations that are very inspiring. It is wild. It opens a lot of doors and you can really reach a lot of people and there is so much power in that, and there are so many great things you can do. I feel very lucky to have that reach with people. It’s something that you don’t really wake up every day and think about, but at the same time you really do because it is a responsibility you can use to better the world and it is fascinating. You always feel like you have a lot to do."