Learning from Coco Martin

JULIA Montes

“Coco Martin helped me become the actor I am today. I learned a lot from him,” Julia Montes said during a recent press conference for her Kapamilya drama series, “Doble Kara.”

According to Julia, her friendship with the ABS-CBN star goes a long way back, even before he assumed the screen name Coco Martin.

“I’ve known him even when he was still Rodel Nacianceno (Coco’s real name). I’m grateful to him because he was my partner in all my successful projects,” she said. “I can say that if there’s anyone whom I respect so much in this business, it’s Coco. Of all the guys I know, I’m closest to him.”

Julia shared some tips she got from Coco: “He advised me to think hard before making important decisions in life; to make sure it will be something that I will not regret in the future. He also told me to put my family above all,” she said. “As an actor, he told me to love my work because it will love me back.”

Asked to describe Coco, Julia replied: “I don’t think anyone could find anything bad to say about him. He is kind and helpful. I also appreciate the fact that even though he is now one of the network’s top stars, he has remained humble.”

She neither confirmed nor denied the rumor that she is dating the actor. “It’s not right for a girl to be the one to talk first. All I can say is that we have never stopped communicating even though we no longer work together.”

Julia and Coco last worked together in the drama series, “Walang Hanggan,” in 2012.

The 21-year-old actress explained: “I’m not too serious about having a romantic relationship right now because I know that everything will happen in God’s time.”

In “Doble Kara,” Julia portrays two characters—the twins, Kara and Sara. The press conference was held to announce that the Emmanuel Palo show will have its Book 2. The finale of Book 1, which featured the wedding of Kara and Seb (Sam Milby), aired on April 22.

Julia shared with the Inquirer how difficult it was to play the two characters. “My concern was to not make other cast members wait for me for too long as I change from Kara to Sara or the other way around. They are asked to hold their emotions while waiting for me. This is hard, especially if a particular scene requires everyone to cry or get angry.”

She added: “As Kara, I simply imagined myself getting married to the person I really love. As Sara, I felt really confused. Sara feels that the people she loves do not love her back.”

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