The cast of Tom Cruise's PR firm ABC's Eli Stone can't stop gushing about Katie Holmes' upcoming song-and-dance number on the October 21 episode.

"She can sing and dance," Natasha Henstridge told said at Saturday's fifth annual Runway For Life gala in Beverly Hills. "She did a fantastic job."

Holmes - who plays a non-profit attorney with a mysterious case - belts out "Hit Me with a Hard Note" in a dream sequence of Eli (Jonny Lee Miller).

"She's a very talented girl," Henstridge said. "I've only seen the clips like you have, but it's pretty hot! She was fantastic to work with."

Wow, you don't hear the terms "hot" and "Katie Holmes" in the same sentence very often. Not since the Dawson's Creek days, really. Here's another pic:

Hopefully, in addition to looking sexy, Katie Holmes creates some memorable Eli Stone quotes during her guest spot. Odds are good - that show's pretty funny.