'I feel sexier', says Katie Holmes as she unleashes the sex kitten in smouldering new photos... taken just weeks before shock split from Tom Cruise

The world was stunned when she announced she had split from Tom Cruise,
But now it appears that the signs were there six weeks before Katie Holmes revealed she was filing for divorce from her husband of five years. 
In an interview conducted for an upcoming issue of America's Elle magazine, Katie told the publication that she was entering a 'new phase' of her life.
Talking about being in her 30s, Katie is quoted as saying: 'I definitely feel much more comfortable in my own skin. I feel sexier. I think in my 20s, it’s like you’re trying too hard to figure everything out.

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'New phase': Katie Holmes hinted she was moving on in an interview with America's Elle magazine six weeks before she announced her split from Tom Cruise

Racy: Katie seductively flashes her sheer black bra in an unbuttoned top on the cover of the magazine

'I’m starting to come into my own. It’s like a new phase.'
It is worth noting that Katie seductively flashes her sheer black bra in an unbuttoned top - as she appears to be rebelling against reports that Tom controlled even her wardrobe choices.
Also in the interview, which took place in mid-May and appears in the magazine on sale on July 17th, Katie appeared to respond negatively to a question about being 'Mrs Tom Cruise'.
The 33-year-old star said: 'He has been Tom Cruise for 30 years. I know who I am and where I am and where I want to go, so I want to focus on that.'
And a source present at the interview told the New York Post that Katie didn't appear to be happy in her relationship with Tom at the time.

Happier times: Katie, seen here with Tom in February, is said to have 'deflected' questions about Tom during the interview conducted in mid-May, instead directing the questions back to herself

The source said: 'Katie didn’t speak about Tom in a lovey-dovey way at all. She deflected the Tom questions and brought them around to herself.'
Katie's interview with Elle took place six weeks before she filed for divorce from Tom on June 29th.
While the pair are now gearing up for a big divorce battle, as well as what is expected to be a bitter fight over custody of their six-year-old daughter Suri, Katie yesterday reassured fans that she is coping following the split.

 

Approached as she stocked up on food at Whole Foods in Manhattan, Katie told a New York Daily News reporter: 'I'm alright. Thank you.'
Meanwhile, Tom, who has been kept busy shooting his latest movie Oblivion in Iceland, yesterday returned to Los Angeles where he marked his 50th birthday with a quiet lunch alongside adopted children Connor and Isabella.

Late night treat: Katie was seen taking six-year-old daughter Suri for ice-cream in New York on Tuesday evening