'OG love team': 5 times Julia Montes and Kathryn Bernardo proved they're total besties
Actresses Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes prove that their on-and-off-screen chemistry is undeniable.
The friendship of the two actors recently became a hot topic after Julia revealed in an interview with Boy Abunda that Kathryn is her "original love team" and that they both hope to work together again.
This was after Julia was asked if she felt any pressure starring with Alden Richards in the upcoming film Five Breakups and A Romance, especially since he had worked with Kathryn in the highest-grossing Filipino film Hello, Love, Goodbye in 2019.
"Siguro po pressure siya in the sense of dahil ang paningin ng tao after nila Kathryn, kami po. But ako kasi mas proud po ako eh. Dun ako tumitingin kasi si Kathryn 'yun eh," Julia said.
She went on to say that she is like a big sister to Kathryn in terms of how she shows her support to her.
"Parang akong ate ni Kathryn na every time may naa-achieve siya ako 'yung pinaka-isa sa masasaya. So parang imbes na tignan ko siya as napre-pressure lang, I am proud na si Kathryn 'yung nandun. And kung ible-bless kami with this film, bakit hindi? We're happy. And Kathryn is very supportive," Julia said.
She continued, "Parang natataon nga po na lagi kami 'yung nadidikit pero happy kami kasi ang lagi naming biro sa isa't isa, tayo ang original love team. Nami-miss na natin ang isa't isa, kailan tayo gagawa, may ganun po kami and our bond is really special."
Kathryn and Julia's friendship has grown stronger over the years, and here are five instances that prove it's unlike any other:
First meeting at Goin' Bulilit
It seems that fate had already been planning for the two actresses to become the best of friends when they both became cast members of the sketch comedy series Goin' Bulilit. Julia was first to join in 2005 before Kathryn followed suit a year later. Eventually, the two of them graduated from the show in 2008.
Frenemies at Mara Clara
From close friends in real life to hostile enemies onscreen. Kathryn and Julia portrayed the show's protagonist Mara David and antagonist Clara Castillo Del Valle respectively of the 2010 drama series Mara Clara.
In the show, Kathryn and Julia played characters who were switched at birth and lived very different lives. Even though their characters often fought like enemies, their real-life friendship remained strong. In fact, their co-star Dimples Romana, had penned a sweet message showing how much she appreciated working with them.
"Plenty changed but never how we are together, so grateful for you both. And super darn proud," Romana wrote as she posted a picture of their reunion. "My Mara and Clara slaying life like the superstars they’ve always been and still having their feet deeply rooted on ground."
More projects for the power duo
Here's some interesting trivia for all you KathNiel fans: Kathryn and her boyfriend Daniel Padilla first formed their pairing in the television series Growing Up back in 2011, and Julia was there to witness it all.
The trio were all part of the teen-oriented show Growing Up along with Diego Loyzaga, Kiray Celis, Neil Coleta, EJ Jallorina, and Yen Santos. Apart from this, Kathryn and Julia were also tapped to star in their very first movie together, Way Back Home, in the same year, where they played long-lost sisters who were reunited after many years.
Being cover girls twice
Julia and Kathryn crossed out another item on their friendship bucket list when they graced the cover of Total Girl magazine back in 2011.
The Kapamilya stars became cover girls for the second time when they were included in the seventh edition of YES! Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful Stars in 2013. The cover is considered historic as it was the first time for the annual special to have two stars on the cover.
Endorsing a brand together
Julia and Kathryn, who hadn't worked together on a project in years, reunited as endorsers for Air Optix Colors and FreshLook contact lenses in 2016. They were thrilled to be sister endorsers and to have the chance to reminisce about the good old days when they filmed projects together.
