Every actress likely looks for that one project that will not become a hit but also echoes growth both in their career and personal journey. For Julia Montes, she has found this and more through her portrayal of Teacher Anna in “Saving Grace.” Julia feels deeply connected to the story in ways she never expected.

"Parang may na-open sa heart ko at na-cure, at nasabi ko na, 'Oh my gosh! Ito pala 'yun?!' habang pine-play ko 'yung role and while seeing every character sa ‘Saving Grace,’" she tells Kapamilya Chat.

“Saving Grace” is the Philippine adaptation of Japan's critically acclaimed drama “Mother,” now in its 10th iteration worldwide. What distinguishes this version is its profound emotional resonance, as the creative team has meticulously shaped the script with unique Filipino values, with love for family as the heartbeat of the story.

In the series, Julia portrays Anna, an elementary school teacher with a big heart but who she describes as misunderstood. She relates it to real life, saying we all have teachers who might seem strict or too serious, but what we don’t realize is that they carry their own burdens and scars. And without us realizing, these teachers, once thought of as distant, can have a profound impact on our lives.

In the first two episodes of the series, which premiered on November 28, viewers get a glimpse of the emotional walls that Teacher Anna has built around herself. But as the story progresses, they’ll uncover the core of her character—a woman of strength and courage, willing to go to great lengths to help her young student, Grace. It’s a side of Teacher Anna that proves not everyone could make the kind of sacrifice she’s prepared to offer.

As a former child star herself, Julia is happy to take on the new role of guiding Zia Grace, the young talent playing the titular role in the series. However, she says Zia hardly seems to need careful mentoring in their scenes. Julia’s face lights up as she talks about her precocious co-star, who displays an extraordinary grasp of her newfound craft. "'Pag nakikita ko siya, umaarte siya, kung paano niya na-e-enjoy 'yung ginagawa niya, ang sarap sa pakiramdam. Kasi bihira 'yung may gift ng charm tapos magaling pang artista."

"Ang talino ng bata, sobra." As someone who experienced the pressures of acting at a young age, Julia knows how difficult it can be to meet the demands of the craft. Yet Zia shows no such struggle; it’s as if she was born for this moment.

Add to that, Zia’s journey to landing the coveted role of Grace feels almost like destiny. She barely made it to the audition cutoff but managed to squeeze in just in time. In the end, it was her who stood out and earned the part. And with her performance in the first two episodes, Zia has already proven that she was the perfect choice.

Zia’s tears are so moving that Julia finds it hard not to react with the same intensity, especially in the first few episodes where Teacher Anna had to keep an emotional wall up. "Ang hirap magpigil, especially 'pag ganu'n kaganda 'yung batang umiiyak sa harap mo. Tapos, siyempre, 'yung eksena nakakadurog ng puso."

Julia adds, "Pag tinanong ako kung ano 'yung pinakamahirap na ginawa ko sa ‘Saving Grace,’ 'yung magpigil ng emosyon. Kasi mas mahirap magpigil kaysa magbigay."

The naturally shy Julia was ready to turn down the project when the late Dreamscape Entertainment head Deo Endrinal first discussed it with her and revealed that she would be sharing the screen with some of the industry’s finest, including the icon Sharon Cuneta.

"No'ng time na hindi pa namin magagawa agad, nahihiya ako kasi baka naho-hold because hindi ko pa magagawa. So, sinabi ko kay Sir Deo, 'Sige po, tuloy n'yo na lang po kung kailangan na pong ituloy.'" But Deo's faith in her abilities pushed her to take the leap and accept the challenge, "Si Sir Deo, 'pag may sinabi siya, 'pag may kinumpas siya, tatalon ka talaga."

And working alongside Sharon turned out to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the project. "Ang blessed ko na makilala ko 'yung real na siya. Ang sarap maging anak-anakan niya kasi napaka-maalaga, napakalambing. Nakaramdam ako ng nanay sa trabaho," she said of the Megastar, whom she also got to work with in the action-drama teleserye “FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.”

Unlike many actors who rely on elaborate rituals to get into character, Julia takes a simpler, more grounded approach on set. For her, preparation is about listening closely to her directors and consulting with the creative team whenever she has questions. In “Saving Grace,” particularly, she credits her brilliant teammates for creating an environment where everything feels seamless and natural.

Still, when anxiety creeps in before a challenging scene, she turns to prayer as her weapon. And by seeking Divine guidance, she gains the courage to trust herself and the work she’s been chosen to do.

Before the chat wrapped up, Julia was asked which other character in “Saving Grace” she would love to portray. And without hesitation, she chose Sarah, Grace’s abusive mother, given life by Jennica Garcia. Julia finds the role fascinating, one that touches on the tension between love and harm. She thinks it’d be interesting to portray a mother who should be nurturing, but instead becomes a source of pain for her child.

“Saving Grace” follows an elementary school teacher who discovers that one of her students is being abused by her mother. Driven by compassion and a sense of justice, she takes in the child, forging a bond that transcends traditional notions of family. Two new episodes drop every Thursday on Prime Video.