Julia Barretto on playing Charlie Fleming’s sister onscreen: ‘Charlie is so deep yet so youthful!’
As part of the cast of the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival entry Haunted Carnival, Julia Barretto gets back into horror again after more than six years since starring in the zombie thriller Block Z. The 29-year-old actress sat down with the press last November 12 at the Regal Films compound where she talked about her newest role.
“I play the role of Aliyah and mostly, if not all of my scenes are with Charlie Fleming who plays my sister. Pero hanggang dun lang ang puwede ko I-share. Pumunta kami ng perya to have fun, only to end up like that (laughs) It was physically demanding. I feel like once your prosthetics pag nalagay na talaga siya, wala ng so-called pahinga. Especially if you have your chair that’s comfortable but you can’t sit on it with how much dirt is on your face and on your body and everything like that. Which is also good kasi hindi ka na-re-relax.
“Although I also did a very physically demanding movie called Block Z in 2020 and that was a great training ground, a great experience knowing that. So just doing this again, parang na-excite ako. Nagkaroon siya ng ibang spark sa akin. Iba eh. Kasi nanggaling ako this year sa romance drama and now I’m doing something as physically demanding as this. But yet, it’s so fun to shoot. Human language din siya kasi sobrang fun sa set,” she shared.
Working closely with teen actress Charlie Fleming for the first time, Julia shared why it was an easy task for her and the 18-year old kapuso star to build their chemistry even before shooting for the film began.
“Pretty early on, Charlie and I already got along. This was even before she had turned 18 so can you believe how young Charlie is. Of course, we were all once 18 but watching her was kind of giving me a kind of glimpse of the kind of youth pala that we were carrying at that age and just wishing that I had enjoyed it more and worried less. So with Charlie, we were able to bond before filming because we play sisters so we wanted to create that chemistry early on. I just love listening to her. I love listening to somebody who has big dreams but also who is also mature for her age.
“I feel like Charlie is so deep yet so youthful at the same time. You know, I’m just always just here for anybody who has any questions to ask or any advice that they need. More than anything, I like to listen. I like to listen to her story, I like to listen to her journey, and if she needs my advice on anything, I’m always there for her and she knows that. But then, Charlie knows what she’s doing. I try to just wait when she asks but she’s doing such a great job with her herself. She knows herself very well,” she admitted.
Julia is also grateful to get the chance to work with the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano for the first time.
“Wow, I’m so honored to be working with Inay Maria during this time na nakagawa ako ng isang romance film which she was present for during the premiere and for Haunted Carnival which is for the MMFF. You know I think it’s a blessing in itself that I get to have a conversation with someone of her stature, someone who has achieved so much, and someone who is so damn good (laughs). So when she has notes, feedback, and some advice to give, you better listen.
“And so that’s just what I did. I love learning, I love learning feedback, I love hearing instruction especially from people who are as accomplished as Inay. So I’m grateful that she gave me the time of day na talagang magbigay ng feedback and her view,” she said.