From her early days in showbiz to becoming a household name, Julia Montes has continuously taken on roles that showcase her depth and versatility. Whether portraying fierce heroines or layered characters, her commanding screen presence makes her a delight to every generation of viewers.

That said, with over two decades of experience to her name, Julia has carved her own repertoire of accomplished and compelling portrayals.

Julia was truly born to be a star. She started young, appearing in television commercials and taking on various roles here and there, but her star truly began to twinkle when she joined the iconic kiddie gag show “Goin’ Bulilit.” While many child stars step back from the spotlight during their awkward years, Julia did the opposite—she seamlessly transitioned and catapulted to stardom when she landed the role of Clara in the 2010 remake of the classic soap opera “Mara Clara,” starring alongside her BFF Kathryn Bernardo, who played Mara.

From child star to teen idol, Julia kept the momentum going. In 2011, she, Kathryn, and other Kapamilya young talents formed the “Growing Up” barkada. Soon after, Julia and Kathryn pursued their individual successful careers, though their friendship remained strong through the years.

At 17, she captured the nation’s heart with her delicate beauty and dramatic prowess that felt so deep beyond her years. “Walang Hanggan” (2012), her primetime teleserye with Coco Martin, was proof of that. Inspired by the 1991 big-screen classic “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit,” the teleserye cemented Julia’s status as a leading lady, earning her the well-deserved title Princess of Philippine Television.

Carrying that moniker, Julia charmed audiences once again in “Muling Buksan ang Puso” (2013), where she was paired with Enrique Gil.

She maintained her high-quality acting when she reunited with Coco in the period drama “Ikaw Lamang” (2014), this time alongside Kim Chiu and Jake Cuenca. Her portrayal of Mona earned her the Gawad Tanglaw Award for Best Performance by an Actress.

Her career only gained more momentum from there. As time passed, she continued refining her craft by taking on even more challenging assignments. In 2015, she pulled off one of her most ambitious performances yet—playing dual roles in “Doble Kara,” which dominated the afternoon block until 2017. She further solidified her reputation as one of the finest actresses of her generation by claiming her second Gawad Tanglaw Best Actress award for “Doble Kara.”

Because of the massive success of “Doble Kara,” the half-German actress was crowned Daytime Drama Queen. She proved she was more than worthy of the honor when she returned to the afternoon block with “Asintado” (2018), an action-drama that showcased an entirely different side of her versatility.

Although she took a hiatus, especially during the height of the pandemic, Julia’s comeback picked up right where she left off—in the world of action-drama—when she joined the final chapter of “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” in 2021. She was Mara, introduced as the last love of the show’s iconic lead character, Cardo Dalisay, played by Coco.

Now, Julia is mothering her way back to primetime with “Saving Grace,” the Philippine adaptation of the acclaimed Japanese drama, “Mother,” airing on free TV with additional scenes, perfectly fitting its reimagined title “Saving Grace The Untold Story.” 

It’s an epic return bound to resonate deeply with audiences. At its core is Julia’s brilliant portrayal of Anna, a public-school teacher determined to save her student Grace, played by newcomer Zia Grace, from the horrors of abuse at home.

Catch “Saving Grace: The Untold Story” starting March 3 on Kapamilya Channel, TV5, and A2Z. The series also stars Sharon Cuneta, Janice de Belen, Jennica Garcia, Christian Bables, and Elisse Joson.