Katie Holmes is known for her adventurous style, but this unusual look was for her new role.

The stunning 36-year-old actress has been given a movie makeover in order to represent her new character in the upcoming drama All We Had, but it's fair to say she didn't quite look like her usual self.

Wearing a super-short and figure-hugging denim mini dress, the star battled with its tiny hemline as she filmed a scene at a Walmart store in Queens, New York on Tuesday.

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Daredevil denim: Katie Holmes got into character on the set of All We Had in Queens, New York on Tuesday, but she appeared to have a spot of bother with the super-short length of her denim mini dress

Although she managed to wear her eye-wateringly short and revealing strapless dress with ease thanks to her tall, slim figure and shapely limbs, she did struggle somewhat with the dangerous length of the skirt.

The willowy star - who plays a single mother in the film, which is also her feature directorial debut - battled as she walked across the car park, tugging at the skirt, which revealed pretty much every inch of her legs.

With a zip down the front and an acid-wash style, it was certainly a daring look for the usually-conservative star.

Leggy display! As she stepped into a local branch of Walmart for filming, Katie almost flashed too much

New look: The usually-polished actress looked a world away from her normal self as she donned the tiny little dress and rocked an overall dishevelled appearance for her role as a struggling single mother

Almost! As she bent forward to look at some plants, Katie's backside was almost on show

For part of the scene, she tied a black and red checked shirt around her slender waistline, while finishing off her character's relatively daring daytime look witih a pair of flat embellished sandals.

And, as she bent forward before making her entrance into the shop, the former Dawson's Creek actress almost revealed too much of her derriere as the denim mini slid high up the backs of her thighs.

Adding to the general down-and-out look of her character, Katie's brunette locks were worn half-up in a scruffy style, and her make-up was suitably applied to give her a dishevelled appearance.

Her character also notably has a tooth missing, a defining feature that was visible on the pretty star as she walked through the supermarket with a shopping cart.

Inside the shop, she showed off a hungry grin while looking for food in the busy aisles.

The toothless, lopsided grin did its job and caught the eye as Katie loaded up the cart with Cheetos, cleaning supplies and other items.

Katie looked to be getting well and truly stuck into her role, and her gauntness and visible weakness certainly wrung the heart.

Then again, she is playing a poor mom who must support her 13-year-old daughter by herself.

She's got the pins for it! Luckily, Katie is the owner of some fantastic legs, so revealing too much wasn't such an issue

Eye-watering length: The star bent down in her cropped dress, her pert derriere all-but being revealed for the cast and crew

Struggling? The 36-year-old actress kept tugging on the super-short hemline to protect her modesty in-between takes

Lovely legs: Thanks to her enviably willowy frame, the actress - who is also directing the film - pulled off the tiny figure-hugging garment with relative ease

Fashion faux-pas: Katie really seemed to have a hard time keeping her costume in place on the set

Tug of war! As she stepped across the parking lot, the former Dawson's Creek star look set on covering her legs as she pulled on the denim

Push! Despite her character clearly struggling, she made the shopping trip fun for her on-screen daughter Ruthie, played by Stefania Owen

Leggy in denim: Katie was outfitted in a zip-up denim mini-dress which she tied a checked shirt around her waist at times as she filmed the scene

Down and out: Katie looked a world away from her normal polished self on set

The ex-wife of Tom Cruise plays the role of Rita Carmichael, a single mother struggling to get by in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse.

Stefania Owen, who plays Katie's daughter Ruthie in the movie, was also seen acting out a scene with Katie who appeared to be rolling her eyes over what the younger actress had to say.

Later in the day, the star's look was changed up to a slightly less revealing ensemble.

For another scene, the star/director was dressed in a pair of floral leggings with a brown flannelette shirt, which hung loosely on her.

Katie appeared rather tired which was no doubt a combination of her character's make-up and the fact she is also directing the film, juggling her on-screen and off-screen duties accordingly.

Hungry AND toothless: Katie stepped into the store, looking decidedly hungry and flashing her missing tooth, a trick of movie make-up magic

Drained: The actress plays a poor single mother who suffers in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis

Say what: Dishevelled Katie and her on-screen daughter acted out a scene in the aisles

Good casting: Katie and her on-screen daughter even share the same gait

Time to rest: Katie took the weight off her weary feet as she sat at a table

Walking gaunt: The actress really went through quite a transformation to change her looks for the dramatic role including a shorter 'do, which was accordingly scruffy for the day of filming

Wringing hearts: Katie really did look like a poor, hungry, toothless struggling mother

Quick change: Later in the day, the star's look was changed up to a slightly less revealing ensemble

Covered up: For another scene, the star/director was dressed in a pair of floral leggings with a brown flannelette shirt, which hung loosely on her

Hard work: Katie appeared rather tired which was no doubt a combination of her character's make-up and the fact she is also directing the film

All We Had is based on the novel by Annie Weatherwax, and Katie liked it so much that she optioned it last year in order to bring it to the big screen.

The coming-of-age story, set during the worldwide financial crisis of 2008, follows the mother and daughter as they move to the small town of Grand River, Ohio, as reported by Deadline.com.

The script has been penned by The Fault in Our Stars director Josh Boone, and the movie will be produced by Jane Rosenthal and Berry Walsh through Tribeca Productions.

Passion project: All We Had is based on the novel by Annie Weatherwax, and Katie liked it so much that she optioned it last year in order to bring it to the big screen

Getting into character: The actress has immersed herself completely into the part

Necessities: Katie's character moves with her teenager daughter to a small town of Grand River, Ohio to begin a new life

Multitasker: The actress is also directing the drama and serving as executive producer

Also on Katie's plate is the Reelz miniseries The Kennedys: After Camelot, a follow-up to 2011's The Kennedys.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Katie will star as Jackie Kennedy and direct one of the series' four episodes, as well as executive produce.

Jon Cassar, who directed all eight episodes of The Kennedys will direct the other three episodes of The Kennedys: After Camelot.