For sure, many of us have missed seeing her on the screen after she temporarily stepped out of the spotlight for more than a year to take her well-deserved hiatus. And this 2020, Julia Montes is indeed having a major comeback after her talent agency, Cornerstone Entertainment, announced that she’s poised to do a slew of projects, with the upcoming weekly action-drama series 24/7 as the first one on the list.
But before we get to see her in another sure-fire portrayal, let’s revisit how she exuded brilliance and versatility as an actress through her roles in various ABS-CBN teleseryes and its other narrative programs in her past 16 years in the industry.
Julia was only nine years old when she had her Kapamilya debut in 2004 via the classic soap opera Hiram, wherein she was the younger Stephanie Borromeo, which was played by Anne Curtis.
Her acting prowess was further honed and showcased after she became part of the gregarious cast of the now-defunct long-running kiddie gag show Goin’ Bullilit from 2005 up to 2008, where she was credited by her real name “Mara Schnittka.”
After her ‘graduation’ from the weekly comedy program, we had witnessed how her career started to take off in 2008 as she appeared in two teleseryes as the younger versions of one of its female main characters and in three episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya. She was the young Jennifer (Ara Mina) in Ligaw na Bulaklak and the young Daniella Valencia (Ruffa Gutierrez) in I Love Betty La Fea, and played different roles in the “Card”, “Leather Shoes”, and “Diary” episodes of MMK.
In 2009, she once again had an appearance on MMK via the “Lubid” episode, and was succeeded by her supporting stint as Maura in Komiks Presents: Nasaan Ka Maruja?.
The following year, Julia had a cameo appearance in the finale episode of Katorse as Nellie, and then played the younger version of Wilda Abrantes, Paw Diaz’s character in Precious Hearts Romances Presents: The Substitute Bride. It was also in 2010 when she scored her first-ever starring roles via Your Song Presents: Gimik 2010, wherein she played Mara and was credited as “Mara Montes.”
In the remake of the hit 90’s soap opera Mara Clara with the same title, wherein she first impressed us with her antagonistic chops as Clara del Valle. It was also in Mara Clara where she was first credited as “Julia Montes”.
The 24-year-old actress had her Wansapanataym debut in 2011 through the “Unli-Gift Box” narrative and was succeeded by another protagonist stint in the weekly teen drama anthology Growing Up as Samantha “Tammy” Magtoto.
Another big break came to her in 2012 when she was tapped to portray Katerina Montenegro-Guidotti, the female lead in the primetime romance drama Walang Hanggan and got paired with seasoned actor Coco Martin for the first time. Her impeccable performance in the series won her the Princess of Philippine Television accolade from the 44th GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards.
She then figured in a love triangle with Enrique Gil and Enchong Dee in the 2013 primetime melodrama Muling Buksan Ang Puso. She also appeared in the “Krus” episode of MMK and in the “The Christmas Visitor” episode of Wanspanataym on that same year.
Julia was able to once again showcase her prowess as an antagonist in the first book of the 2014 teleserye Ikaw Lamang by playing Mona Roque-Hidalgo. Her exceptional performance in the series brought her the Best Performance by An Actress recognition from the Gawad Tanglaw Awards.
In 2015, she got reunited with her perennial loveteam partner Coco Martin in Wansapanataym: Yamashita’s Treasures taking on the role of a nymph named Tanya. It was then succeeded by her appearance in the “Picture” episode of MMK and her award-winning dual role as warring twins Kara and Sara in Doble Kara, which gave her her second Gawad Tanglaw Awards for Best Actress trophy.
Two years after, she starred anew in a Wansapanataym narrative tilted “Annika Pintasera,” opposite JC Santos.
And in 2018, she wasn’t only able to display her chops in drama, but in action as well, as she took on the role of Ana Dimasalang-Del Mundo in the Kapamilya Gold series Asintado.
Are you excited as us to see Julia Montes’ much-awaited return to the small screen? Well, you better not miss 24/7 beginning February 23, on the Yes Weekend! Sunday block of ABS-CBN, replacing The Haunted on its timeslot.