Julia Montes

Mara Hautea Schnittka (born March 19, 1995), known professionally as Julia Montes, is a Filipino actress of German descent. She began acting as a child on television by playing guest roles and starring in Goin' Bulilit. Montes gained widespread recognition with her first significant role as Clara del Valle in the remake of Mara Clara (2010–11), following which she made her film debut in the family drama Way Back Home (2011).

After Mara Clara ended, she starred in the critically acclaimed romantic drama Walang Hanggan (2012), as Katerina Alcantara, for which she won the Princess of Philippine Television Award, and in Muling Buksan Ang Puso (2013), as Sarah Beltran. For her role as Mona Hidalgo in the period drama Ikaw Lamang (2014), she won a Gawad Tanglaw Award for Best Actress and received a nomination for the PMPC Star Award for Best Drama Supporting Actress. This year, Montes headlines the melodrama Doble Kara (2015), as identical twin sisters Kara Dela Rosa and Sara Suarez. For her work in the television series, she won her second Gawad Tanglaw Award for Best Actress and received a nomination for the PMPC Star Award for Best Drama Actress.

In films, she starred in the romantic drama A Moment in Time (2013), as Jillian Linden, for which she was nominated for the FAMAS Award for Best Actress, and the romantic horror Halik sa Hangin (2015), as Mia Generoso, for which she earned a nomination for the Young Critics Circle Award for Best Performance. Other film appearances include the romantic comedy The Reunion (2012), the horror adventure The Strangers (2012) and the independent drama Padre de Familia (2016).

Early life

Julia Montes was born Mara Hautea Schnittka to a Filipino mother, Gemma Hautea, and a German father, Martin Schnittka, in Pandacan, Manila, Philippines. Martin left them when Montes was still a baby, and only her deaf mother raised her with the help of her grandmother, Flory Hautea. She has two younger brothers, Patrick and Paulo. She describes education as one of the tools to have a good life and she hopes to continuously work not just for herself but for her family as well.^[3] Montes has other relatives in Germany. In 2011, she finished high school with good grades at the Blessed Hope Christian School.^[4]

At the age of 5, Montes began attending auditions and modeling agencies. She recalls the struggles she and her grandmother went through: commuting to castings, hurrying from school to shoots and missing a lot of family time in the process until she was cast in a milk brand, chocolate snack and fast food chain endorsements. However, she said she never competed with anyone and was just in the entertainment industry out of needs. Describing her ambitions as a child, Montes has said, "Since I was a child, I only had three dreams: to become a soldier, a chef and a flight attendant."^[5]

Career

2001–09: Career beginnings

She started as a commercial model before appearing in various television shows. She was cast in a number of GMA shows such as Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga in 2001 as the daughter of actors Robin Da Rosa and Angelu de Leon, and in some episodes of the now defunct drama anthology Magpakailanman. Montes went on to play different roles on other ABS-CBN shows such as Hiram and Maalaala Mo Kaya. She also appeared in other TV series including Ligaw na Bulaklak and I Love Betty La Fea before landing a permanent spot on the kiddie gag show Goin' Bulilit. In 2008, Montes, as Abby, starred in a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode titled "Card", a story of a girl who is longing for the love of her parents while under the care of a nursemaid. As a teen star, Montes starred as Mara in the youth-oriented show Your Song Presents: Gimik 2010. She also appeared in Katorse, led by actress Erich Gonzales in 2009.

2010–11: Breakthrough with Mara Clara

In 2010, Montes' breakthrough role came when she tapped the role of Clara del Valle / Clara David in the hit remake of the longest-running classic soap opera about teenage sibling rivalry, Mara Clara, alongside her co-star and off-screen best friend Kathryn Bernardo. The finale episode of the series earned a 43.4% national ratings based on Kantar Media, making it the highest-rating teleserye episode to date aired on ABS-CBN that year.^[6][7] Montes' portrayal as the main antiheroine of the series received generally positive reviews and landed her lead roles in films and television series in her future projects.^[8]

In 2011, Montes made her film debut in the family drama Way Back Home, which opened in August 2011 to positive reviews, as Jessica "Jessie" Lorraine S. Santiago alongside Kathryn Bernardo. Montes garnered largely positive reviews by critics, with Abby Mendoza of PEP.ph writing, "One should applaud Julia Montes for deviating from the classic snotty, mean girl character who makes life miserable for the downtrodden Mara. It is Julia’s strength to gain the sympathy of the audience while playing the angsty girl who harbors much pain. She has the ability to make her audience understand the pain her character is going through, and more importantly make them see where it is coming from. Julia was astounding."^[9] That same year, she portrayed the role of Samantha "Tammy" Magtoto in another youth-oriented show entitled Growing Up, re-partnering her with Mara Clara co-star Kathryn Bernardo.

2012–13: Walang Hanggan and film works

In 2012, greater success came to Montes when she starred with Coco Martin in the romantic drama series Walang Hanggan.^[10] The critically acclaimed series is loosely based on the 1991 film Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit, a film based on the Emily Brontë classic novel, Wuthering Heights. Walang Hanggan features the undying love that revolves around characters from three different generations – the love triangle among Virginia, Margaret, and Joseph; the ill-fated lovers Marco and Emily; and young sweethearts Daniel and Katerina. The series includes Martin as Daniel Guidotti, Richard Gomez as Marco Montenegro, Dawn Zulueta as Emily Guidotti, Susan Roces as Virginia "Henya" Cruz, Helen Gamboa as Doña Margaret Montenegro, and Montes, as Katerina Alcantara. This also marks the first on-screen team-up of Coco Martin and Julia Montes, and the reunion project of eternal loveteam Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta.

The series and Montes' performance both earned widespread acclaim from critics as it maintained the top spot and dominated the viewers' ratings for most of its run, being the only Philippine drama of 2012 to exceed the 40% margin in ratings.^[11] The finale episode of the show garnered a 45.4% viewership rating nationwide.^[12] Walang Hanggan emerged as the most watched show during the second half of 2012, ruling the list with a whopping national TV rating of 38.4% based on Kantar Media.^[13] Due to the series' phenomenal success, Walang Hanggan was aired internationally in foreign countries along with Ina, Kapatid, Anak, and Be Careful With My Heart.^[14] The series earned Montes the title of "Phenomenal Primetime Princess;" eventually she was named as the "Princess of Philippine Television" during the 44th Box Office Entertainment Awards (GMMSFI).^[15][16] Martin, on the other hand, acquired the title "Prince of Philippine Television". For their rapport in Walang Hanggan, Montes and Martin also placed 2nd as the most popular loveteams at the 4th FMTM Awards.^[17]

Montes then starred in other two 2012 films, as Ligaya in The Reunion, and as Pat in The Strangers. In 2013, Montes starred in the romantic drama A Moment in Time alongside Coco Martin, as a follow-up success of their preeminent team-up in Walang Hanggan.^[18] The film grossed over ₱64,543,391 nationwide,^[19] and Montes received her first nomination for the FAMAS Award for Best Actress. She also appeared in an Maalaala Mo Kaya episode titled "Krus", a story about a girl named Diana who was sold to a prostitution den by her own foster mother at a young age of 15. The episode drew a nationwide audience share of 34.2%, making it the No. 1 most watched program on March 9, according to data from Kantar Media.^[20] That same year, Montes co-starred with Enchong Dee and Enrique Gil in another television series Muling Buksan Ang Puso which centers on the themes of forgiveness and second chances. Montes portrayed the role of Sarah Beltran, a role which she said in an interview was tailor-fit for her real age.^[21] The series ranked 10th in Top 15 programs from January to December 2013.^[22] The same year, she, with Kathryn Bernardo, was ranked number 1 as Most Beautiful Star of 2013.^[23]

2014–present: Doble Kara and awards success

Montes' profile continued to grow in 2014 when she appeared as Mona Roque-Hidalgo, the lifelong loyal friend and secret admirer of Samuel, in the period drama series Ikaw Lamang where she reteamed with her Walang Hanggan leading man Coco Martin as Samuel Hidalgo / Gabriel Hidalgo. It also starred Kim Chiu as Isabelle Miravelez-Hidalgo / Andrea Hidalgo and Jake Cuenca as Franco Hidalgo. She received a nomination for Best Drama Supporting Actress in the series at the PMPC Star Awards for TV 2014.^[24] In January 2015 at the 13th Gawad Tanglaw (Gawad Tagapuring mga Akademisyan ng Aninong Gumagalaw) for television, Montes, tied with veteran actress Angel Locsin, won a Best Actress award for her role in Ikaw Lamang.^[25] During the same year, Montes completed work on Adolfo Alix Jr.'s family drama Padre de Familia, which was released on February 20, 2016, with Coco Martin and Nora Aunor. Filming took place in Malaysia.^[26]

After her character's departure from Ikaw Lamang, Montes starred in the romantic horror Halik sa Hangin with Gerald Anderson and JC de Vera. The film, under the direction of Emmanuel Quindo Palo, marked Montes' third collaboration with Palo and was theatrically released on January 28, 2015.^[27] Montes continued to draw praises and recognition from film critics for her role as Mia Generoso in Halik sa Hangin. In a review from PEP.ph, author Jocelyn Valle stated that "Julia, the actress, shows great commitment and earnestness in playing the character of Mia. She makes the viewer feel Mia’s emotional stages of entering into the territory of romantic love — apprehension, excitement, caution, bliss — until reality bites. She shines the brightest in the pivotal scene where Mia is suspected to becoming a mental case, and Mia has to convince everybody that she’s telling the truth."^[28] Montes' performance earned her a Young Critics Circle nomination for Best Performance.^[29]

Later in 2015, Dreamscape publicity head Eric John Salut confirmed on February 12, 2015 via Twitter that Montes will be reunited once again with Walang Hanggan leading man Coco Martin in an upcoming TV project.^[30] Martin and Montes reunited in a new chapter of Wansapanataym's summer special called "Yamishita's Treasures", marking the second collaboration of the two as a loveteam in television since their hit TV series Walang Hanggan. After watching the premiere of Halik sa Hangin, Martin stated in an interview that he personally requested for Montes as his leading lady for his new project because he was proud and impressed by the young actress' outstanding performance in Halik sa Hangin.^[31] Montes starred as Tanya, a princess in a world of fairies, who meets Yami and helps him retrieve a treasure in her world. Wansapanataym's "Yamishita's Treasures" ran for 12 weeks, from March 22 to June 14, 2015.^[32][33] Later that same year, Montes appeared in an Maalaala Mo Kaya episode titled "Picture", a story about a young woman named Rosa who fell in love with a man who, unknown to her, is already married. The episode registered a national TV rating of 37.2%, making it one of the most watched episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya that year.^[34]

After accomplishing several film and television projects involving Halik sa Hangin, Wansapanataym, and in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, Montes headlines Doble Kara in 2015 (co-starring Carmina Villaroel, Mylene Dizon, Ariel Rivera, Allen Dizon and Sam Milby).^[35][36] The series revolves around the lives and story of twins Kara and Sara, who got separated during their childhood due to Kara's urgent need of cure for leukemia.^[37] Montes assumes the roles of identical twin sisters Kara and Sara, who share the same appearance but exhibit completely different personas. Doble Kara is produced by Dreamscape Entertainment Television, and premiered on August 24, 2015.^[38] Montes received a Best Actress Award for two consecutive years at the 2016 ceremony of the 14th Gawad Tanglaw Awards, as well as a PMPC Star Award nomination in the Best Dramatic Actress category for her role.^[39][40] In February 2016, Star Style magazine noted in a 2016 feature that Montes seemed dedicated to developing herself as a serious actress rather than a film star.^[41]

Personal life

In June 2015, Montes completed a culinary course at the Center for Culinary Arts, Manila along with her fellow actress Yam Concepcion.^[42] Montes is a practicing Catholic.^[43]

Filmography

Television

Film

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Julia Montes on Twitter
  
• Julia Montes on Instagram
• Julia Montes at the Internet Movie Database