Julia Barretto on idolizing Sharon Cuneta and Maricel Soriano: ‘Sobra akong naging blessed!’

Having started out in showbiz as a child actress at the age of nine, Julia Barretto proved she wasn’t going to solely rely on her family name to build up her career. Fast forward to today and she is considered one of the country’s most sought after leading ladies, having recently starred in the romance drama Always Yours, Never Mine earlier this year.

After two decades in showbiz, Julia shared why it was still important to her to have mentors in the industry during her Haunted Carnival press conference with co-star Maricel Soriano. 

“Parang ang healthy na meron kang ganun sa industriya because it’s a unique job that only a few people can understand and you have to be in the same world to understand. So it’s nice when you find friends and mentors in the industry, especially the ones you can trust. Pero sobra akong naging blessed din sa mga nakakatrabaho ko in the past like now, we’re taking about Inay Maria na when she talks, I listen to her. And her stories always stay with me. She shares that with all of us. Kinukuwento pa lang niya, wow. And then she shares her mentor’s advices that gives also to you as advice. So you really listen carefully,” she admitted. 

Another pillar in the industry that Julia feels lucky to have worked with is the Megastar Sharon Cuneta. 

“I’ve also worked with Ms. Sharon Cuneta who also became like a mom to me in 2017 in whom I look up to also because she was such a breeze to work with. Parang ang sarap nila panuorin paano magtrabaho because it’s different. Their presence, their humility, their kindness, their generosity. When you watch how they work, (you realize) there’s no excuse. After so many years of doing the same job, it’s the same great attitude, it’s the same great heart and the same great pakikisama sa mga tao. I feel so lucky and blessed to have worked with icons like Ms. Sharon and Inay Maria who are such great examples in the industry. Ang dami kong natututunan especially by just observing and watching,” she explained. 

In her Metro Manila Film Festival entry this year, the 29-year-old actress shared just how exhilarating it was for her to shoot a horror film.

 “Oh my goodness, nakaka-hyper, nakaka-hyperventilate at nakakatawa din minsan. Kasi hindi pa ako masyado nakagawa pa ng horror. This would be only my second horror. And horror na din in a sense na hindi na rin spirits yung nasa pelikula but more of elements in the carnival.

“When you’re doing a genre like this, it requires a lot of imagination. Especially that what you’re seeing in front of you is not reality, it’s not really scary, if anything. When we’re looking at the freaks in the carnival, kapag sila ang ka-eksena namin, we’re so amazed. Like nagpapa-picture kami sa freaks sa set. But it’s a lot of imagination required. But you’re also hyperventilating a lot because when you’re really present in the scene and you really feel it especially in the latter part pag pagoda ka na at ang dami mo ng pinagdaanan, hinahabol ka na. Alam kasi nila direk kapag dinadaya mo yung hinga mo. So tinu-totoo mo yung hinga mo, by the time nagsabi na ng ‘Cut!’ Pa-blackout ka na.

“But you know what, I only have good things to share about this experience. Ang saya pa mag-shoot ng ganito lalo na pinagsabay ko siya sa romance drama na ginawa ko.Because that was emotionally and mentally demanding and this one was physically demaning. So para Siyang naging balance. And at the same time we’re in a carnival so ang sayang i-shoot,” she said. 

Another thing Julia loved about the Regal Entertainment project was the movie theme which is set in the mid-‘80s.

“I loved the outfits of everyone. Kung among outfit namin sa simula, yun din yung outfit namin sa dulo. It was so fun to look at the outfits. And even the little elements, the cellphone, the radio, the paper. Ano yung gamin namin sa set nun? Hindi nga yun beeper. There’s so many elements in the movie na nagamit namin sa set and you’re kind of like amazed with these things from the past and parang na-educate ka billing hindi kami galing sa ‘80s. Ang saya kasi pati kami na-transform,” she added.