Julia Montes reveals ‘greatest fear’ in working with Alden Richards

Julia Montes opened up about her “greatest fear” while working on Five Breakups and a Romance, her first film with Alden Richards.

She confessed that her concern revolved around establishing chemistry, as she wasn’t accustomed to having a loveteam or romantic partner on screen (besides, perhaps, her reel-to-real-life boyfriend Coco Martin).

The Kapamilya actress expressed that, despite her initial concerns, the connection between her and the Kapuso actor developed organically, and their chemistry became a “gift” from being genuine to each other, which was further enhanced by Alden’s “generosity” as a leading man.

“Siguro sa akin po, I’ve never been blessed or this wasn’t the path I had before na sanay ako sa loveteam and all. So, this is really my greatest fear. But it’s a gift. If the person (you’re working with) is genuine, you don’t have to exert any effort, the chemistry will come, everything will come, there’s (going to be) connection. And perhaps, that’s the gift of Alden. He’s a generous person,” Julia said during a presscon.

“Ang nangyari lang po talaga nagsunod-sunod na. Eto na. This was the connection that got formed, which we can’t explain fully because of this film na bago talaga lahat.”

Julia also discussed the challenges she faced while doing the film, which marked her big-screen comeback since 2016. She acknowledged that she initially grappled with self-doubt.

As a former child star, she shared how pressure had been a constant part of her life from a young age, and it was definitely present in her latest film project. However, she noted that what she felt this time was of a different nature, leaning more towards a “happy” kind of pressure, which also extended to the director and the entire behind-the-scenes team.

“The whole team really did a great job. What happens off-camera, the part that the audience doesn’t see, is truly commendable. I haven’t experienced this with others before. This time, I couldn’t find any loopholes while doing the film. The entire experience made me feel spoiled that I’m now pressured about what I’ll do next,” she said.

“Because I don’t always accept everything that comes my way. But this film really spoke to my heart, telling me, ‘Accept this, Juls.’ If they believed in you, try believing in yourself, too. So, that’s the main takeaway. There’s so much to learn. It’s truly a journey. The pressure is always there. I know that I’m in an industry where I might not be famous and might not have many fans, but I love this job; it’s a real passion. It feels great to fulfill a role and be appreciated by people. That, in itself, is a big reward for me.”

It appears that this film was a wish come true for Alden as well. More than a decade ago, he had “manifested” on social media his desire to work with Julia.

The actress reacted, “Whatever you plan or manifest in life, God has a perfect plan and perfect timing, and this is it. If I were to summarize all my experiences with him and with everybody, (it’s a testament to) God’s perfect plan.”

Five Breakups and a Romance is a romance-drama film centered around two individuals with opposite personalities who pursue a relationship after a summer fling in Singapore, only to encounter a series of breakups. Julia’s character, Justine, is a meticulous planner who realizes that not everything can be controlled, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. When Lance comes into her life, the question is whether he will help her achieve her dreams or become the reason she discovers that not everything will go as planned.

As a viewer and hopeless romantic, Julia wants stories that evoke kilig and all the beautiful emotions that love brings. She anticipates that this film will deliver all that, but with a “realistic” touch. It portrays the ups and downs of relationships and the need for a couple to work together to achieve goals, making it a relatable depiction of love. She said that her genuine connection with Alden added to the authenticity of their portrayals.

Meanwhile, when asked about the craziest thing she’s done for love, Julia expressed that, in her view, nothing qualifies as “crazy” when it comes to love.

She elaborated by saying, “When you fall in love, or when you’re in love, there’s no such thing as crazy because love is love. Siguro the max (maximum thing) I did for love is — even not romantically — that even if the person doesn’t reciprocate or the current situation is unfavorable, when I make a promise, I truly follow through. So, when I say that I’ll be there for you till the end, even if there’s no connection or anything left, I’ll still be there.”

She continued, “That’s the nature of love; it knows no limits. Just because your relationship has ended, it doesn’t mean the love will end. (Again) love is love. You can love someone from afar, you can continue to support that person, or in any current situation they’re in, even if there are problems, by simply helping, even when there’s nothing left between you, is a significant gesture. So, there’s no such thing as a crazy act when it comes to love.”

Five Breakups and A Romance is directed and written by Irene Emma Villamor, who previously directed romance films Camp Sawi, Relaks, It’s just Pag-ibig, Meet Me in St. Gallen, Sid and Aya: Not A Love Story, Ulan and On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets. It’s a GMA Pictures, Cornerstone Studios, and Myriad Entertainment production, executive produced by Erickson Raymundo, Alden Richards, Annette Gozon-Valdes, and produced by Jeff Vadillo, Vince Mariano and Jose Mari Abacan. The film is now screening in over 230 cinemas nationwide.