Julia Montes on being compared to Kathryn Bernardo: 'Magkaiba kami ng career path'

Rachelle Siazon

<img src='' alt='011412-julia-1.jpg' width='305' border='0' align='left' height='290'>Now that Julia Montes has her first bida role via Walang Hanggan, some are saying that she has surpassed former Mara Clara co-star Kathryn Bernardo when it comes to careers. But Julia insisted that their home network is just making sure that they both grow as artists in their respective projects. 'Hindi naman siguro naungusan. Kasi iba yung path niya, iba rin yung sa akin. Mala-Kim Chiu daw yung path niya tapos Bea Alonzo naman sa akin para hindi kami mag-clash. Siguro sa mga fans lang medyo magkakairingan, pero wala talaga sa amin ni Kathryn.' In fact, they are still inseparable every time they meet at the same shows or events. Julia added that she's happy because her friend has been very supportive of the positive changes in her career right now. 'Aaminin ko sa inyo, si Kathryn, lagi pa rin kaming magkatawagan, sobra yung suporta niya sa akin. And masaya ako kasi ganon pa rin yung friendship namin, walang nagbago. Lagi nga sinasabi ng iba na baka magbago [kapag hiwalay na kami ng project], pero hindi talaga.' Asked what makes them different from each other in real life, Julia cheerfully explained, 'Ang pagkakaiba siguro kasi kapag tinignan ako mas maangas lang. Mara Clara days pa lang, ganon na. Iba yung mukha ni Kathryn, maamo. Ako sumeryoso lang mukha akala nila isnabera na ako.' She also admitted that her grown-up look must have been the reason why she got a mature role in Walang Hanggan even though she's only 16 years old. 'Kung titignan niyo kasi ako physically, mas mukha akong mature kaysa kay Kathryn. Siguro dahil sa features ko na may ibang lahi kaya parang may edge lang.' Julia's aware that there's pressure for her to meet the expectations of the ABS-CBN management as well as the viewers, which makes it harder to be a bida than a kontrabida in a teleserye. 'Yung Mara Clara mas nakaka-relate ako kasi puppy love yun. Hindi man ako maka-relate bilang kontrabida, yung sa crush crush [na takbo ng istorya] makaka-relate pa ako. Dito sa Walang Hanggan, love talaga. Iniisip ko na lang, what if ako yung nasa sitwasyon ng character, ano ang mararamdaman ko? Para sa ganon ma-internalize ko yung character ko, so effort talaga.' Nevertheless, Julia's confident that people will love her new role in Walang Hanggan through the help of her other co-stars. 'Ginagawa ko yung best ko para mag-work itong panibagong challenge sa akin bilang artista. Sa tulong ni Coco Martin at ng lahat ng cast, hopefully makagawa rin ako ng sarili kong marka sa pag-arte. Definitely ibang Julia ang makikita ninyo this time.'

Julia Montes says it's not right to compare her accomplishments with Kathryn Bernardo's just because she chose to pursue bolder roles.

Julia Montes on being compared to Kathryn Bernardo: 'Magkaiba kami ng career path' | PUSH.COM.PH