Katie Holmes has opened up about her lifelong fear of raccoons.

The former Dawson's Creek star is terrified of the woodland creatures, and admits she recently tried to overcome her phobia after coming face to face with one of the furry critters.

She tells Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, "I'm really scared of raccoons. Well, you know everybody always says that with a spider or a dog, they're more afraid of you than you are of them and I don't find that (with raccoons).

"I was recently sitting outside and this raccoon comes right up, like right there, and I'm expecting it to be more afraid of me.

"I'm staring at it and it's staring right back like he's going to kick my butt! I didn't know what to do so I just stood up and I barked at him and he ran away!"