Julia Montes, born Mara Hautea Schnittka, is a Filipino actress of German descent. She began her acting career as a child, playing guest roles and starring in Goin' Bulilit. Her breakthrough role came when she portrayed Clara del Valle/David in the remake of Mara Clara, a drama about teenage sibling rivalry.
Montes gained widespread recognition for her role in the critically acclaimed romantic drama Walang Hanggan, alongside Coco Martin. She won the Princess of Philippine Television Award and was named the "Princess of Philippine Television" during the 44th Box Office Entertainment Awards.
She has also starred in several films, including Way Back Home, A Moment in Time, and Halik sa Hangin. Montes has won several awards for her performances, including the Gawad Tanglaw Award for Best Actress and the PMPC Star Award for Best Drama Supporting Actress.
In her personal life, Montes was born to a Filipino mother and German father, but her father left when she was a baby. She was raised by her deaf mother and grandmother, and has two younger brothers. She has spoken about the struggles she and her grandmother faced, commuting to castings and missing family time.
Montes started her acting career as a commercial model and began appearing in various television shows as a child. She has said that she never competed with anyone and was just in the entertainment industry out of needs. She has also spoken about her ambitions as a child, saying that she wanted to be a soldier, a chef, and a flight attendant.
Montes has continued to work in the entertainment industry, starring in several television series and films. She has also pursued her passion for cooking, completing a culinary course at the Center for Culinary Arts, Manila.
