Katie Holmes is reportedly a supportive presence for her daughter, Suri, following news that the young adult has legally dropped her estranged father Tom Cruise's last name. A source told Page Six on Wednesday that Holmes was “not surprised” by Suri’s decision, characterizing it as an evolution over time that Holmes respected.
According to the insider, Holmes, 47, believes her 20-year-old daughter is “old enough to make her own decisions” and fully supports Suri’s choices. The source alleged that Holmes did not influence her daughter’s decision, stating it originated solely with Suri.
The publication reported earlier this week that Suri Cruise has changed her name to Suri Noelle, adopting her mother’s middle name as her surname. Voter registration records obtained by The Daily Mail indicate Suri Noelle registered to vote in Pennsylvania in October 2024, where she attends Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania requires voters to use their legal names for registration.
While Suri registered in Allegheny County, she did not file a name change request there, suggesting the change may have been legally processed in New York prior to her leaving for college, according to Page Six. Suri has reportedly used the name Noelle publicly for several years, including for her high school graduation in June 2024 and on the casting sheet for her senior year high school play.
Cruise, 64, has been estranged from his daughter for years, a situation that reportedly began following his 2012 divorce from Holmes and her decision to cut ties with Scientology. The last public photograph of Cruise with Suri was taken in 2012. Suri turned 18 in 2024 and celebrated the milestone without her father.
Sources have indicated that Suri has no intention of reconciling with her father, with one source previously stating, “Tom does not exist to her.” Another insider added that Suri feels she has only one parent, her mother.
Holmes married Cruise in 2006, and they divorced in 2012, with Holmes gaining sole custody of Suri. Since then, Suri has reportedly had no relationship with her father. Suri is pursuing a career in acting, following in her parents' footsteps, and is majoring in musical theater. She is set to perform in an adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" titled "Midsummer!" later this summer.
Suri's decision to change her name comes amid a reported trend among children of celebrities, including those of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who have also reportedly filed to change their surnames due to estrangement from their fathers.