mature" than her age and most girls of her age. The journalist Irish Christianne Dizon of The Philippine Star has identified this as her "trademark" in many of her best projects, adding, "In this age where rabid love team fans compete for the No. 1 trending spot on Twitter nightly, Julia is taking the road less traveled, choosing herself as partner-in-crime instead of a good-looking boy." Her Doble Kara co-star John Lapus has praised her effortless acting that makes her performance classic. She started her acting studies in Star Magic. ABS-CBN vice president Johnny Manahan has favorably compared her craft to that of Claudine Barretto and considers her "incandescent on screen and as an actress who is passionate about her craft". In 2012, The Philippine Star called her acting "beyond her age". In a 2016 interview with Star Style, Montes elaborated: I like that I have the chance to be in someone else's shoes. Once I portray someone else's life, I get to understand who that person is. It gives me a much bigger and better perspective on everyone's lives around me. As a role model to young people, she is particularly known for her grounded and family-oriented personality. Early in her career, Montes established a reputation for being her family's breadwinner, amidst the absence of her biological father. She managed to buy her own house at age 17 and was able to put up a salon for her grandmother, who had to sacrifice her salon business to pull their efforts together to support Montes at the start of her career. In 2016 and 2017, Montes was awarded for the Makabata Stars on the Anak TV Awards. ABS-CBN's Push.com says she is humble about her profession, saying she is "just a person with a job" to make ends meet, attracts little gossip or tabloid attention, and casual in her appearance. In 2015, she was included in Candy Magazine listing of the "7 Amazing Women Who Should Be Your Life Pegs" features. Several media publications have noted Montes' attractiveness. She appeared in Yes! magazine's annual listing of the "100 Most Beautiful Stars", topping the list with Kathryn Bernardo in 2013. From 2012 to 2016, she was included in FHM 100 sexiest women, and won Star Magic Ball's "Sweetheart of the Night", and "Female Star of the Night" awards in 2012 and 2015, respectively. Filmography Awards and nominations Montes has received one