Julia Montes, born Mara Hautea Schnittka, is a Filipino actress who has starred in several films and television series, including “Walang Hanggan,” “A Moment in Time,” and “Doble Kara.” She is known for her grounded and family-oriented personality and has received several awards for her performances.
Montes’ Biography and Early Life
Julia Montes was born on March 19, 1995, in Pandacan, Manila, Philippines. She began her acting career as a child on television, playing guest roles and starring in “Goin’ Bulilit.” She made her first screen debut on GMA Network’s “Sana ay Ikaw na Nga” (2001) as a child actress and appeared in several television commercials.
Julia Montes’ Career
Montes gained widespread recognition with her first significant role and breakthrough playing the mean and spoiled Clara del Valle in the remake of “Mara Clara” (2010-2011). She then starred in the family drama “Way Back Home” (2011) and the youth-oriented show “Growing Up” (2011-2012). Her performance in “Way Back Home” garnered largely positive reviews from critics.
In 2012, Julia rose to fame starring in the critically acclaimed romantic drama series “Walang Hanggan,” as Katerina Alcantara, alongside Coco Martin. The series is loosely based on the 1991 film “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit,” which in turn was based on Emily Brontë’s classic novel, “Wuthering Heights.”
The series maintained the top spot and dominated the viewer ratings for most of its run, being the only Philippine drama of 2012 to exceed the 40% margin in ratings. The finale episode of the show garnered a 45.4% viewership rating nationwide.
Montes then starred in the romantic drama “A Moment in Time” (2013) alongside Martin, as a follow-up success of their preeminent team-up in “Walang Hanggan.” The film grossed over ₱64,543,391 nationwide, and Montes received her first nomination for the FAMAS Award for Best Actress.
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Julia’s Series with Coco Martin and Awards
In 2014, Montes starred in the period drama series “Ikaw Lamang,” as Mona Roque-Hidalgo, alongside Coco Martin, Kim Chiu, and Jake Cuenca. She received a nomination for Best Drama Supporting Actress in the series at the PMPC Star Awards for TV 2014. At the 13th Gawad Tanglaw Awards in 2015, Montes tied with veteran actress Angel Locsin and won a Best Actress award for her role in “Ikaw Lamang.”
In 2015, Julia Montes completed work on Adolfo Alix Jr.’s family drama “Padre de Familia,” which was released on February 20, 2016, with Martin and Nora Aunor. Filming took place in Malaysia. She then starred in the romantic horror “Halik sa Hangin” (2015) alongside Gerald Anderson and JC de Vera. Her performance earned her a Young Critics Circle nomination for Best Performance.
Montes headlined “Doble Kara” (2015-2017), playing identical twin sisters Kara and Sara, who share the same appearance but exhibit completely different personas. She received a Best Actress Award for two consecutive years at the 14th Gawad Tanglaw Awards, as well as a PMPC Star Award nomination in the Best Dramatic Actress category for her role.
In 2018, Montes starred in the political drama “Asintado,” as Ana Dimasalang, a paramedic who became Gael Ojeda’s personal nurse after saving him from an accident and fell in love with him; she becomes involved in an assassination plot arranged by the del Mundos and Ojedas upon witnessing their plan.
Montes’ Relationship and Personal Life
According to sources, Julia reunited with her birth father, Martin Schnittka, at Bellini’s, Cubao, Quezon City, in December 2017. In an Instagram post, she expressed gratitude to her cousin and her German fans for making the encounter a joyful one.
is Julia Montes Married to Coco Martin?
No, but Julia Montes is in a relationship with fellow actor Coco Martin. In May 2023, Martin stated that he and Montes have been together for about 12 years.
Although there’s no exact date of when they began dating, in December 2016, Montes was reunited with her birth father, Martin Schnittka, at Bellini’s, Cubao, Quezon City.
Do Julia Montes and Coco Martin Have a Baby?
Montes and Coco Martin do not have a baby together. Most of the baby photos they were seen together with are from movies. However, in 2022 there were unconfirmed rumors that Julia Montes was pregnant after being spotted with a baby bump. Montes never confirmed if it were true or not.
How Much is Julia Montes’ Net Worth?
Julia Montes has an estimated net worth of $5 million. She makes money from her career as an actress.
Movies and Television Series
Below are some of the movies and television series Julia Montes is notably known for:
- “Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga” (2001)
- “Mara Clara” (2010-2011)
- “Way Back Home” (2011)
- “Growing Up” (2011-2012)
- “Walang Hanggan” (2012)
- “The Reunion” (2012)
- “The Strangers” (2012)
- “A Moment in Time” (2013)
- “Muling Buksan Ang Puso” (2013)
- “Ikaw Lamang” (2014)
- “Halik sa Hangin” (2015)
- “Padre de Familia” (2016)
- “Doble Kara” (2015-2017)
- “Asintado” (2018)