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 She is a dainty sprite, bordering on fey in the mold of
French film heroine "Amelie." But she also has some serious
issues.
Decked out in frilly ankle socks and flowery dresses, she is
armed and just a little bit trigger happy, especially when
would-be rapists or child molesters enter her sights.
She tends to punctuate meet-ups with a decidedly non-ironic "toodle-loo,"
and as described by one of the cops on her trail in "Miss
Meadows" is a "pulp fiction Mary Poppins."
But her mission to clear the streets of bad people is
complicated when she falls for a local sheriff, played by James
Badge Dale ("World War Z," and "Parkland.")
"I'm a fan of strong women, and I like seeing them on screen,"
Holmes said of the vigilante heroine she portrays in the film.
"I liked her spirit," Holmes added. "She was delightful and
believed in what she was doing and the integrity of her mind."
The vigilante satire co-stars three-time Emmy-award winner Jean
Smart ("Samantha Who?" and "Frasier") and Mary Kay Place, who
also won an Emmy for comedy series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman."
Written and directed by first-time filmmaker Karen Leigh
Hopkins, the long gestation of "Miss Meadows" began with the
1993 abduction and murder of 12-year-old Polly Klaas, who was
snatched from her bedroom in Petaluma, California, during a
slumber party.
Hopkins recalled a reporter at the time saying the killer
deserved compassion, having himself been abused as a child.
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"I always thought of myself as a fairly liberal person," Hopkins
said after the film's premiere. "But at that moment I thought,
'We've lost our marbles.' And at that moment, 'Miss Meadows' came
into my head."
"That was 14 years ago," Hopkins added.
The film was shot on location in and around Cleveland, Ohio, in just
under three weeks, and according to Hopkins, getting Holmes, known
for her roles in "The Ice Storm" and "Batman Begins," to play the
title role helped.
"It was a phenomenal gift," Hopkins said.
Holmes, whose marriage to Tom Cruise ended in 2012, has completed
two films since "Miss Meadows," and is shooting an untitled movie in
which she plays a New York socialite.
By all accounts the character took on an added dimension when Holmes
signed on, imparting the killer with an ethereal, whimsical quality.
"Katie brought an entirely new level to Miss Meadows," Hopkins said,
including much of the humor.
The director also appreciated her ability to improvise, noting that
the actress did not hesitate to rework a line of dialogue because
she felt it was wrong for the character.
Holmes evinced a shading of Miss Meadows, adding: "I think I always
said 'Please.'"
(Reporting by Chris Michaud; editing by Patricia Reaney and G.
Crosse)
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