Her Big Debut

Kelsey Borresen

It's not uncommon forHollywood actors to take a breakfrom TV and film to show off their acting chops on Broadway. And it seems to us that more and more A-listers are heading to the Broadway stage at one very specific time -- in the wake of their public breakups. In fact, some have even suggested that the Great White Way might be some kind ofdivorce rehab for celebritieslooking to keep busy post-split.

The most recent star to grace the Broadway stage? The newly single Katie Holmes who is starring inTheresa Rebeck's comedy "Dead Accounts" -- whichopens Nov. 29-- alongsideJosh Hamilton,Judy Greerand Tony-award-winnerNorbert Leo Butz.

Click through the slides below to see more on Katie Holmes and four other celebrities who performed on Broadway post-split.

Katie Holmes

In August 2012, Katie Holmes <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20623201,00.html">finalized her divorce</a> from Tom Cruise, her <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20608003,00.html">husband of five years</a>. Less than three months later, she made her <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27230267/ns/today-entertainment/t/katie-holmes-makes-broadway-debut/">second Broadway appearance</a> in previews of the new comedy "Dead Accounts," in which <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/theater/katie-holmes-and-norbert-leo-butz-in-dead-accounts.html?pagewanted=all">Holmes plays Lorna </a> -- a woman who moves back into her parents' home in Cincinnatti after a breakup. In the show -- which <a href="http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-First-Look-at-Katie-Holmes-Norbert-Leo-Butz-and-More-in-DEAD-ACCOUNTS-on-Broadway-20121114#"> officially opens Nov. 29</a>-- the "Dawson's Creek" star shares a steamy <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/picture-katie-holmes-kisses-dead-accounts-costar-josh-hamilton-onstage-2012611">on-stage kiss</a> with co-star Josh Hamilton. Something tells us Tom won't be buying a ticket any time soon...

Zooey Deschanel

After two years of marriage, Zooey Deschanel <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2012/01/zooey-deschanel-divorce-ben-gibbard.html">filed for divorce</a> from Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard in December 2011. During a May 2012 Grand Ole Opry performance, country music legend Loretta Lynn announced that Deschanel will play her in a <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1684943/zooey-deschanel-broadway-loretta-lynn-coal-miners-daughter.jhtml">Broadway musical about the singer's life</a>. After the announcement, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/zooey-deschanel-coal-miners-daughter_n_1508784.html">Deschanel joined Lynn on stage</a> to sing her chart-topping hit "Coal Miner's Daughter," which is also set to be the title of the musical. <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/zooey-deschanel-to-play-loretta-lynn-in-coal-miners-daughter-musical-2012115" target="_hplink">Fox Theatricals</a> and <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/zooey-deschanel-to-play-loretta-lynn-in-coal-miners-daughter-musical-2012115" target="_hplink">Scott Sanders Productions</a> are slated to produce the show, but no other details are known at this time.

Laura Linney

Emmy-award-winning actress Laura Linney divorced her <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/magazine/01Linney-t.html?pagewanted=all">husband of five years</a> -- <a href="http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,1007288_927114_783868,00.html">actor David Adkins</a> -- in 1999. In May of 2000, the "Big C" star took to the Great White Way to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/01/theater/theater-review-chekhov-is-recast-laughter-plays-painkiller.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm">play the role of Yelena</a> in Anton Chekhov's play "Uncle Vanya." The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/01/theater/theater-review-chekhov-is-recast-laughter-plays-painkiller.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm">New York Times theater critic</a> described her performance as "brisk, vital and exhortative as a gym teacher who all but shouts most of her lines."

Madonna

<a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20233183,00.html">Twice-divorced</a> Madonna made her Broadway debut shortly after she announced plans to <a href="http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20097827,00.html">end her turbulent two-year marriage</a> to Sean Penn in late 1987. In May 1988, five months after the split, she <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-05-07/entertainment/ca-2173_1_mamet-madonna-praised">played the part of Karen</a> in playwright David Mamet's Hollywood satire "Speed-the-Plow." Many critics gave her <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-05-07/entertainment/ca-2173_1_mamet-madonna-praised">negative reviews</a> for her performance, but the New York Times called it <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-05-07/entertainment/ca-2173_1_mamet-madonna-praised">"intelligent, scrupulously disciplined comic acting." </a> Penn and Madge later <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/07/arts/madonna-and-sean-penn-to-end-their-marriage.html">nullified the 1987 divorce filing</a> and enjoyed a brief period of reconciliation. The two <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/07/arts/madonna-and-sean-penn-to-end-their-marriage.html">split up for good</a> in January 1989.

Ethan Hawke

After five years of marriage, Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/02/1062403511857.html">separated in September 2003</a> amid <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/hawke_of_the_town_V6urSTWqmgE1J4fKpf76YK">rumors of his affair </a>with their children's nanny, Ryan Shawhughes, to whom he <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505270_162-57444573/ethan-hawke-life-is-good/">is now married</a>. Less than three months later, in November 2003, Hawke began performances of <a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/82396-The-Head-That-Wears-a-Crown-Henry-IV-Begins-at-Lincoln-Center-Oct-28">"Henry IV" at Lincoln Center</a> where he played the role of Hotspur. More recently, Hawke starred in a 2012 off-Broadway revival of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/review-ethan-hawke-is-an-energetic-anti-hero-in-off-broadway-revival-of-chekhovs-ivanov/2012/11/11/cb9e86ee-2c6f-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html">Anton Chekhov's play "Ivanov"</a> alongside "Nip/Tuck" actress, Joely Richardson.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.