Bashers, beware of this Barretto

JULIA: “They have no right to make anyone feel small.”

Teen actress Julia Barretto was “depressed” when her teamup with Enrique Gil on the TV series “Mira Bella” drew negative comments on Twitter from loyal supporters of JulQuen, the actor’s screen tandem with fellow ABS-CBN contract artist Julia Montes.

“There was no need for harsh words. I’m also human; I get hurt,” Barretto said. She and Gil play the lead characters in the new Kapamilya fantasy-drama series, which premieres March 24. Gil was last seen with Montes in the drama series “Muling Buksan ang Puso.”

Barretto is done dwelling on that episode. “Casting Enrique and me together was a management move, but I’m happy with that because he is such a nice guy and a good actor.”

On the bright side, it led her to an advocacy that she now supports: antibullying. She told the Inquirer: “I’m lucky that I experienced this only in social media and not in school, although I think, either way, you get hurt. I hope to inspire teenagers and help them handle such a situation. No one should give others the power to make them feel small.”

She was 15 when she first encountered a basher. “Someone said something bad about my mom (former actress Marjorie Barretto). I thought, ‘But you don’t know my mom; how could you say that?’ Now, I just ignore them.”

In “Mira Bella,” Barretto plays Mira, whose kind heart is eclipsed by her repulsive appearance. She will become the attractive Bella, desired by men, including Gil’s character Jeremy.

“Taping has been really fun so far. I am both excited and nervous because of this show. I waited a long time for this,” Barretto said.

She just hopes viewers will appreciate the effort she puts into this endeavor. “Everything is new to me; every taping day, a learning experience. I’d rather not pressure myself into being good, as though I’ve been here for years. I’m allowing myself to improve with time.”

“Mira Bella” also features Pokwang, John Lapus, Mika de la Cruz, Mylene Dizon, Gloria Diaz and James Blanco. The series is codirected by Erick Salud, Jerome Pobocan and Jojo Saguin.