Katie Holmes is happy and ringless in first pics since Tom Cruise split

Katie Holmes has stepped out for the first time since she filed for a divorce from Tom Cruise.

Katie Holmes emerges for the first time since filing for divorce. Copyright [Rex]

The 'Dawson's Creek' star smiled as she was hounded by photographers on the set of 'Project Runway: All Stars' in New York.

And although her fierce group of bodyguards tried to hide her left hand, it was clear that Katie had taken off her wedding ring.

The 33-year-old actress gave a meek grin as she made her way through the paps in NYC in a blue and black shirt dress.

Katie Holmes smiled as she made her way through the paps. Copyright [Rex]

Katie Holmes wasn't wearing her wedding ring. Copyright [Rex]

And her left hand - which was tightly clutched by one of her new security people - was clearly showing a naked wedding finger.

Insiders on the set of the movie, in which Katie is making a guest appearance, said she did a wonderful job despite what was going on in her private life.

One said: "She was engaged, articulate and wonderful".

Meanwhile her estranged husband Tom Cruise, who is today celebrating his 50th birthday, was miles away in Iceland where he is getting on with his own career, filming 'Oblivion'.

Tom Cruise is in Iceland filming his new movie. Copyright [Rex]

Katie Holmes filed for divorce from the Hollywood actor on Friday, citing "irreconcilable differences".

Katie Holmes was making a guest appearance on set yesterday in NYC. Copyright [Rex]

It is believe she was worried their daughter Suri would be sent away to an extreme Scientology camp.

The six-year-old was apparently being prepped for Sea Organisation - an association of Scientologists.

And last night it emerged that little Suri had already faced an inquisition of 99 sinister questions at a Scientology boot camp.

Apparently Katie, who was a raised a Catholic, had been stalked for weeks by Scientologists in the run-up to the announcement about the divorce.

Katie Holmes wants sole custody of Suri. Copyright [Rex]

Yesterday it emerged that the actress had sacked her publicist and reverted back to the one she was using before she married Tom.

Katie wants sole custody of Suri - something she is more likely to get in the courts of New York.

So she is claiming that her marital home with Tom has been in Manhatten for two years. She has been careful to be pictured there every day in the run-up to the announcement.

Amy Jackson Bags a Bumper Offer

Although it isn't official yet, it is true that Samantha has been kicked out of Shankar's next film I. Samantha's health issues landed her in soup and she has no choice but to opt out of it. One's misfortune is another's gain and Samantha's pain turned out to be the gain for Amy Jackson. She is going to play one of the heroines in Shankar film.

Interestingly, both Samantha and Amy are playing the female leads in Ram Charan's movie Yevadu. Shankar first decided to go with Samantha and he has now roped in Amy in I. Amy Jackson has already did a film with Vikram. She is one of the heroines in the movie Thandavam. Amy is surely going places as big budget films are landing in her hands out of nowhere.

I will also feature a Bollywood heroine in another role. Shankar is currently in talks with two of the most popular ladies of the B town. Shankar wants to get the right ladies for this film as it is a romantic thriller. Heroines have a big role to play in this film unlike Shankar's previous movies. Looks like Samantha has really missed out on once in a lifetime opportunity. Hope luck shines upon her in some other way.

Shriya Saran