Starting out in the entertainment industry as a bulilit, Julia Montes has done a multitude of roles in iconic Kapamilya teleseryes. But beyond the indelible characters and powerful scenes, what truly stays with her are the memories behind the camera.
That’s why she loves re-watching old clips from her past series, and she did just that in this episode of Kapamilya Chat! In the "Rate and React" segment, Julia relived some of her most iconic TV moments and shared fond off-cam stories that are as delightful as the roles she’s played.
The former child star couldn’t help but smile as she watched a clip from "Ligaw Na Bulaklak," where she played the adolescent Jennifer. She laughed recalling how difficult it was to deliver her lines—turns out, she was wearing invisible braces back then! Staring at the young Julia on the screen, she was asked if she had ever imagined reaching the level of success she enjoys today. With all humility, Julia admitted she never thought about it that way. She's only grateful for the trust and projects she’s been given. “At the end of the day, pare-pareho lang tayo working for our families. Wala namang pinagkaiba,” she said.
The next excerpt took her back to "Mara Clara," where she had a gripping acting sparring with two of the industry’s finest, Gina Pareño and Mylene Dizon, and even got a taste of Gina's slap. Watching the 'sampalan' galore made her miss working with the seasoned actresses. “Isang karangalan na makatanggap ng mag-asawang sampal mula sa nag-iisang Gina Pareño,” she quipped, and then revealed how the experience left her second-guessing herself, “Pagkatapos n'yan, naisip ko, 'Tama ba 'yung ginawa ko?' Pumunta ako sa portalet, naiiyak ako kasi parang nag-lock jaw ako.”
For Julia, that scene is proof that acting is all about reacting. “Magre-react ka lang sa binibigay nila, eh ang galing-galing! Wala 'yun sa rehearsal, hindi planado. So, mabibigla ka, pero kailangan mong lumaban kasi 'yung linya mo, lalaban ka. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam,” she explained, marveling at how organic the performance felt. “Hindi ko ma-imagine na nagawa namin 'yun noon.” She also expressed gratitude for the generosity she received from her veteran co-stars, who were always ready to mentor her on set. As for her rating? No question about it—this explosive duel gets a perfect 5.
And then, the studio was filled with teasing when a highlight from "Walang Hanggan" featuring Julia and her real-life partner, Coco Martin, was played. She considers this project her first-ever mature role, which was a significant leap from her previous ‘teenybopper’ stint in the youth-oriented series "Growing Up." At just 17, she had to step into the shoes of Katerina, a married woman caught in a love triangle. “Hindi ko naman alam 'yung pakiramdam na may asawa tapos pinag-aagawan ng dalawang lalaki,” she joked, reflecting the challenges of the role.
But what made the experience less intimidating was having Coco as her leading man, "Kahit paano, 'yung kaba nabawasan kasi kakilala ko si Coco.” Unsurprisingly, this heartfelt exchange earned yet another perfect 5 from Julia!
Proving her versatility, she has also taken on fierce kontrabida roles, like Sara in the afternoon drama "Doble Kara." One of the most iconic moments from the soap features an enthralling confrontation with Carmina Villarroel, who taught her polished 'sampalan' choreography. Julia also remembers drawing inspiration from the 'gay community' on set to paint Sara’s spunk. She would observe their conversations and pick up on their mannerisms and gay lingo.
The next clip she reviewed was from "Asintado," specifically a riveting showdown with her on-screen sister, Shaina Magdayao. Looking back, Julia shared that doing such interactions felt natural because she and Shaina treated each other like real sisters off-cam, making it easy to connect with their characters' emotions. What made "Asintado" even more unforgettable were the action-packed elements.
Filming heavy scenes, however, comes with its own emotional toll, "Technically, nakakabaliw maging artista." The "Saving Grace" star explained, "Masaya ka naman in real life perokailangan mong umiyak, o kaya malungkot ka in real life pero kailangan mong maging masaya [sa harap ng camera]." Sometimes, actors struggle to completely detach from a character's emotions. Fortunately, her makeup artist, who is also her best friend, is always by her side helping her reset after takes.
To balance the intensity of her work, Julia consciously keeps the atmosphere light and enjoyable on set. She loves chatting with her co-stars, even though she’s naturally shy, as her way of making sure work never feels too overwhelming.