Katie Holmes pays tribute to courageous firefighters battling bushfires
Actor Katie Holmes has paid tribute to firefighters battling devastating bushfires across the country today as she lent her star power to McDonalds’ McHappy Day – surprising locals at the Haberfield store in Sydney’s inner west.
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Actor Katie Holmes has paid tribute to firefighters battling devastating bushfires across the country during a whirlwind visit to Sydney.
The Dawson’s Creek star flew into the city this week to be an ambassador for McHappy Day and was this morning greeting fans and raising funds at the McDonald’s restaurant in Haberfield.
Holmes was shocked when she landed and saw the level of destruction caused by the fires.
“It’s horrific, it’s so upsetting and my heart goes out to them. All those people affected,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.
“Thank you for all of your work, it’s so scary and they have so much courage. Thank goodness for them.”
As she talked to The Sunday Telegraph, vision of injured koalas appeared on a television screen in the room and she looked visibly taken aback by the horrific images.
Dressed all in white – a brave move when there’s bucket loads of ketchup in the room – the 40-year-old actor talked freely with fans who had flocked to the inner west outlet, some with Dawson’s Creek posters in hand ready to be signed.
When first contacted by McDonald’s to be an ambassador, Holmes said she was more than happy to jump on board.
“I’ve been a fan of Ronald McDonald House charities for a long time … and I was honoured,” she said. “I know how much the Ronald McDonald House charity means to families going through the unimaginable and so I was happy to be a part of it.”
A visit to Ronald McDonald House in Westmead yesterday was an eye-opener for Holmes, who has a 13-year-old daughter, Suri, with former husband Tom Cruise.
“It was very moving to meet the children and the families – I felt very blessed with their stories and their time because I didn’t want to intrude on this time in their lives,” Holmes said. “I think when you see children who are suffering it is very difficult so the work that Ronald McDonald House has done to create a nurturing environment and a safe environment is so beautiful because it’s helping them and I think that’s important.”
This is the second time Holmes has been to Australia having shot the film Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark in Melbourne a decade ago. But don’t ask the actor to pick a side in the ongoing Sydney versus Melbourne war.
“Oh my gosh that is so unfair and I’m not walking into that – no!” she laughed.