Katie Holmes joins Liev Schreiber’s bad boy in Ray Donovan’s return

KATIE Holmes admits she was a big fan of crime drama Ray Donovan and when an interesting role was offered she wanted to be back on TV.

Episode 302

FANS of crime drama Ray Donovan were surprised to hear the addition of Katie Holmes to season three.

Holmes plays a businesswoman and daughter of billionaire movie producer, Malcolm Finney, played by Ian McShane (Deadwood). Finney Sr. hires our favourite ‘fixer,’ played by Liev Schreiber in the titular role, to help his family, particularly his daughter, out of a crisis.

New chapter: Holmes as Paige Finney. Picture: Supplied

Audiences first met Holmes in 1998 in Dawson’s Creek, but she’s primarily known for such films as Batman Begins and more recently, The Giver(2014), other than her off-screen role as the ex-Mrs Tom Cruise.

She jumped at the chance to play the role of Paige Finney.

“I’m a big fan of the show. I’ve never put limits on myself in this business in terms of TV or film. I go wherever the rewarding work is and where the interesting characters lie,” she says.

Of the new season, Jon Voight, who plays Ray’s father, Mickey Donovan, says ‘the most important storyline is about Ray’. This is centred on Ray working for Finney — an opportunity he hopes will act as the springboard for him to finally go legit.

As for what’s in store for papa Donovan, Voight chuckles: “Mickey always winds up doing the wrong thing. But he has other intentions. This season he’s really trying to establish himself on his own.”

Consumed: Schreiber in his starring role of Ray Donovan. Picture: Supplied

Schreiber’s long-running stint on TV has changed his views on the acting profession.

“I never subscribed to that school of acting where I was deeply immersive and wanted people to call me by my character’s name. I never really believed that characters could actually consume you until I played Ray Donovan,” he says.

“But you put yourself in that situation 14 hours a day, over and over again, and you get his habitual reactions to things.”

Schreiber’s role often calls for dark turbulent scenes, something he actively shakes off at the end of the day. “I try to do a meditation before and after we shoot, especially as violent and wound-up as Ray is,” he says.

Holmes seems to have an easier time of: “I’m able to do my work and I don’t really live with it when I go home.”

Rave reviews have already emerged from advance screenings of the new season, with leading man Schreiber admitting he did not anticipate the hit show’s success.

“Oh, I’m always surprised if something I’m in is successful,” he laughs.

RAY DONOVAN, MONDAY, 8.30PM, SHOWCASE

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