Julia Barretto Says Her Latest Movie Character Reminds Her Of Her Younger Self

Julia Barretto is brimming with excitement for the year ahead. Embracing a go-getter attitude, she expresses how passionate she is now to take on new opportunities and challenges. 

“God has been so good… I’m just feeling a whole different drive for this year. Parang I’m geared up and ready to go for this year. I’m grateful that I entered 2024 with that kind of mindset,” she told Metro.Style when asked what the year has been like for her so far.

It’s only the second month of the year, and yet Julia is already booked and busy. Recently, it was announced that she is starring in Viu’s digital series, Secret Ingredient, with South Korean actor Lee Sang Heon and Indonesian actor Nicholas Saputra. It’s a project in the works, but what’s currently on her plate today are promotions for her latest movie, Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko, which hits cinemas nationwide tomorrow, February 7. 

Julia Barretto stars alongside seasoned actor Aga Muhlach in the romantic and music-centric movie. Written and directed by Denise O’Hara, Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko is at its core a movie that presents the unique love story of two souls connected by music, a narrative woven into the classic compositions of Filipino music maestro George Canseco, whom this project pays tribute to. 

Julia, 26, plays the role of Jas, a choir member who dreams of becoming part of a world-renowned chorale, and Aga, 54, as Michael, a musical conductor. The age gap between the lead actors and the May-December plot of the movie are glaring, and Julia is aware of the concerns people have raised about how their movie could be normalizing age gap in relationships as well as depicting grooming. She said that she acknowledges those concerns and feedback and that they are indeed valid. What she only asks for is to give their movie a chance, “to be open and see how the story unfolds.” 

“With this kind of material, we were really extra careful, like it was a conscious effort to make sure that it was conservative, that it was wholesome, that it was born out of love,” Julia shared. “We just didn’t want to send the wrong message with a love story like this. So inalagaan talaga siya. So sana makita siya kapag napanood siya.” 

A question typically asked whenever an actor takes on a new movie or series is the things he/she shares in common with his/her character. Julia began answering this question by saying that “Jas is such a brave woman.”

She continued, “Actually, Jas reminds me more of my younger self than my current self. And it’s funny because Jas is supposed to be much older than I am. She’s supposed to be, like, 30 years old. But she feels a lot like my younger self. Parang siya ’yung younger self na, ‘Oh, e love kita e. Ano’ng pake ng iba?’ Alam mo ’yung ganu’n. ‘Kahit ganyan ’yung opinyon nila, e love natin ’yung isa’t-isa e.’ Parang she’s just so… she’ll just do her own thing. She’ll do her own thing. It makes her happy. She loves this person. But si Jas does it ng s’yempre wala siyang nasasaktan na iba. Sorry ha! Because I think one of the wrong notions about the film is that the guy is not single. They’re both very much single. I think what kind of makes it feel like hindi p’wede ’yung love story nila is because of the age gap. But they’re both very much single. So, I feel like ganu’n si Jas. She’s such a go-getter. She’ll do what makes her happy.”

“So I don’t think I’m like Jas in that sense,” Julia emphasized. “Because now, Julia… Julia thinks. A lot. Now. So, and it comes with growing up, comes with growing older. You gain more awareness and knowledge and wisdom, and I’m grateful for that.”  

Watch our full Metro Talks interview with Julia Barretto below:

Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko will be shown in over 200 cinemas nationwide, starting tomorrow, February 7.

Lead photos by @bjpascual