Julia Montes

In 2015, Julia Montes did a culinary course at the Center for Culinary Arts, Manila.

In 2016, she met her biological father, Martin Schnittka, and on Instagram she thanked her German cousin and her fans for making the meeting possible. Her father has apologized for leaving her.

It is said that she is dating her former co-star Coco Martin.

Julia Montes was born as Mara Hautea Schnittka on March 19, 1995, in Pandacan, Manila, Philippines. Her mother Gemma Hautea is a Filipino, and father Martin Schnittka is a German, who left them when she was a baby. Her mother, who is deaf, raised her with the help of her grandmother, Flory Hautea. She also has two younger brothers, Paolo and Patrick.

Julia was good in studies, and believes that education can give you a good life. She studied in Blessed Hope Christian School and graduated with good grades in 2011. She also studied acting in Star Magic.

She is family-oriented and started working at a very tender age to support her family. Her grandmother started contacting modeling agencies, and Julia began giving auditions from the age of five.

Julia still remembers her days of struggle, when she and her grandmother visited agencies and went for castings, hurrying from school to shoots. In the process, she missed out on family time and also could not spend time with childhood friends.

As a child, she dreamed of becoming a soldier, a flight attendant, and a chef. Acting was never her priority; it came her way out of need. In fact, in the absence of her father, she was the breadwinner of her family.

Julia Montes bagged three endorsements with popular brands when she was a child—a milk brand, a chocolate snack, and a fast food chain.

Her roles in commercials led to opportunities in television shows. She first did minor roles in GMA shows like ‘Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga’ in 2001. Next, she did an anthology/drama show ‘Magpakailanman’. She did many other guest roles on ABS-CBN's television shows like ‘Hiram’ in 2004.

Her acting capabilities landed her a permanent spot in the kids show ‘Goin' Bulilit’ in 2005, wherein she played different roles till she left the show in 2008.

In 2008, she also featured in other television series like ‘Ligaw na Bulaklak’ and ‘I Love Betty La Fea’. That year, she appeared in a ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ episode titled ‘Card’. In 2009, she played a guest role in ‘Katorse’s finale episode, wherein she portrayed Nellie, a shy girl. She portrayed the teenage Mara in the show ‘Gimik 2010.’

In 2010, Julia’s breakthrough role came in with the classic soap opera ‘Mara Clara’, wherein she played the role of a spoiled teenage girl. It was her first significant role that shot her to fame. The finale episode of the series received the highest rating to date for soaps aired on ABS-CBN. Julia’s role as the anti-heroine received acclaim, and helped her get lead roles in films and television.

Julia’s breakthrough role in the soap ‘Mara Clara’ is among her most significant works. Her portrayal of the character Clara del Valle was much appreciated. The TV show was one of the longest-running soap operas in the nation.

Her debut film ‘Way Back Home’ was another one of her best performances. Her roles in ‘Walang ‘Hanggan’ and ‘Doble Kara’ were also significant; she received accolades and awards for her performances in these. ‘Walang Hanggan’ was the most watched show in 2012. It was aired in foreign countries as well.

Her films ‘The Reunion’, and ‘The Strangers’ were also very successful projects. The former collected record-breaking revenues at the box office.