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Katie Holmes to star in and produce new biopic about Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks

Katie Holmes is set to take the big screen with a new political film inspired by pioneering lawyer Jill Wine-Banks.

Holmes, 42, will play the Watergate prosecutor in an adaptation of her 2020 memoir The Watergate Girl: My Fight For Truth and Justice Against A Criminal President, Deadline reported on Monday.

In addition to starring at Wine-Banks, the actress will make a rare outing as a producer on the film. 

New project: Katie Holmes, 42, will star as prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks, 77, and produce a film adaptation of her 2020 memoir The Watergate Girl; seen in February 2020 in Paris

New project: Katie Holmes, 42, will star as prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks, 77, and produce a film adaptation of her 2020 memoir The Watergate Girl; seen in February 2020 in Paris

'I’m excited to be working with Katie Holmes and am both honored and humbled to have my experience as the only woman on the Watergate trial team shared on the big screen,' Wine-Banks said in a statement.

'Though it was almost 50 years ago, the story of our investigation and trial remain compelling and relevant to current events and the sexism reflected in my story reverberates today. I hope this film opens up more dialogue around the challenges still facing professional women.'

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Wine-Banks, then known as Jill Wine Volner, was one of three assistant Watergate special prosecutors that was assigned to the trial of top Nixon aides accused of obstruction of justice.

She famously cross-examined Nixon's secretary Rose Mary Woods over an 18-minute gap in the Watergate tapes, casting significant doubt on Woods' story that she accidentally erased such a significant portion of the tape in the act of transcribing it.  

High profile: 'I¿m excited to be working with Katie Holmes and am both honored and humbled to have my experience as the only woman on the Watergate trial team shared on the big screen,' Wine-Banks said in a statement; seen in 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee

High profile: 'I’m excited to be working with Katie Holmes and am both honored and humbled to have my experience as the only woman on the Watergate trial team shared on the big screen,' Wine-Banks said in a statement; seen in 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee

According to Holmes, the contemporary parallels in the 1970s-set story inspired her. 

'I was drawn to this story because it is as relevant today as it was then,' she said.

'Women are constantly trying to break through the glass ceiling in the male workplace and this woman single-handedly helped reshape the Watergate trial. I am constantly inspired by these strong female protagonists, and it is a world I will always want to explore.'

Wine-Banks, who was 30 when she became the only woman prosecuting the most high-profile Watergate defendants, was initially dismissed by some reporters as 'the mini-skirted lawyer,' a reference to her controversial short skirts that irked sexist journalists at the time.

After her stint on the Watergate prosecution, Wine-Banks went into private practice, before President Jimmy Carter nominated her to be the General Counsel of the Army.

She held that position until 1980 and later became the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association. 

Political: 'I was drawn to this story because it is as relevant today as it was then,' Holmes said. 'Women are constantly trying to break through the glass ceiling in the male workplace and this woman singlehandedly helped reshape the Watergate trial'; seen in 2019 in Sydney

Political: 'I was drawn to this story because it is as relevant today as it was then,' Holmes said. 'Women are constantly trying to break through the glass ceiling in the male workplace and this woman singlehandedly helped reshape the Watergate trial'; seen in 2019 in Sydney

Stunning career: Wine-Banks was only 30 when she became the sole woman prosecuting President Richard Nixon's top aids for obstruction of justice; seen in 2018 in NYC

Stunning career: Wine-Banks was only 30 when she became the sole woman prosecuting President Richard Nixon's top aids for obstruction of justice; seen in 2018 in NYC

Different time: Her 2020 memoir The Watergate Girl delves into the trial and the sexist criticism she received from press at the time for wearing miniskirts in court

Different time: Her 2020 memoir The Watergate Girl delves into the trial and the sexist criticism she received from press at the time for wearing miniskirts in court

Holmes appeared in two films in 2020, the poorly reviewed adaptation of The Secret, subtitled Dare To Dream, in which she starred with Josh Lucas and Jerry O'Connell.

In February, she starred in the critically reviled horror sequel Brahms: The Boy II.

The star has taken a more leisurely pace with her projects in recent years and has done small roles and cameos in the critically adored heist film Logan Lucky and the blockbuster Ocean's Eight.

Slowing down: Holmes has taken a leisurely scheduled recently, but she released the critically reviled horror film Brahms: The Boy II in 2020 and a poorly received adaptation of The Secret; seen earlier this month

Slowing down: Holmes has taken a leisurely scheduled recently, but she released the critically reviled horror film Brahms: The Boy II in 2020 and a poorly received adaptation of The Secret; seen earlier this month

Holmes is currently in a relationship with the chef Emilio Vitolo Jr.

The loved-up couple were first linked on September 1 of last year as they aughed and smiled over dinner at SoHo's Antique Garage.  

Days later, the confirmed their romance when they were seen making out in another Manhattan restaurant while she sat on his lap.

Since then, Holmes have been nearly inseparable and are regularly spotted out together in New York City. 

Lovebirds: She's currently dating the chef Emilio Vitolo Jr. after confirming their romance back in September

Lovebirds: She's currently dating the chef Emilio Vitolo Jr. after confirming their romance back in September

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Larita Shotwell

Update: 2024-08-02