Julia Barretto

Early life and background

Barretto is the daughter of actors Dennis Padilla and Marjorie Barretto. She has a brother and a sister. Her aunts are actresses Claudine Barretto and Gretchen Barretto.

She finished grade school (Grades 1 to 7) at Miriam College in Loyola Heights Katipunan Avenue Quezon City in March 2011. She started high school at Miriam College from freshman to sophomore year, where she played as a member of their varsity volleyball team in the WNCAA, until she transferred to St. Paul College in Pasig in 2013 during her junior year under their curriculum for professional talents after signing a contract with Star Magic. She graduated high school in 2015.

Career

Early years and breakthrough (2006–2014)

Barretto began her career as a child actress and made her screen debut in Gulong ng Palad (2006). After playing several supporting roles in television, she gained fame as Anna in the fantasy series Kokey (2007) and appeared as Pamela Kiev in the action drama series Palos the following year. She also appeared in numerous episodes of the anthologies Wansapanataym and Maalaala Mo Kaya in the succeeding years. In 2011, she made her first appearance at the Star Magic Ball and was awarded Princess of the Night the following year. In 2013, she was launched as part of Star Magic Circle, along with Liza Soberano and Janella Salvador. She landed her first lead role in the drama series Mirabella (2014) opposite Enrique Gil. According to Kantar Media, the series was the fourth most watched television show throughout its run and garnered its highest nationwide viewership of 27.3% during its finale episode. The same year, Barretto was honored with a German Moreno Youth Achievement Award at the 62nd FAMAS Awards.

Mainstream stardom (2015–2019)

In May 2015, Barretto made her film debut in the teen romance Para sa Hopeless Romantic. The film earned her a nomination at the 64th FAMAS Awards for Best Supporting Actress. Later that year, she starred with Miles Ocampo in the melodrama series And I Love You So. Barretto ventured more roles in romantic comedies and drama. In December 2016, she starred alongside Joshua Garcia and Ronnie Alonte in the film Vince and Kath and James. It was selected as one of the official entries at the 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival and became a blockbuster hit, earning ₱123 million at the Philippine box office. Following their successful team up, Barretto and Garcia starred again in another Star Cinema film, Love You to the Stars and Back. The film was acclaimed by the critics and has earned ₱112 million at the domestic box office. Barretto's performance also earned her nominations for Best Actress at the FAMAS and Luna Awards.

In 2017, Barretto teamed up with Garcia for the third time and starred in the film Unexpectedly Yours with Sharon Cuneta and Robin Padilla. The film garnered bigger numbers at the box office, grossing ₱249 million worldwide. In August 2018, the tandem made their television series debut in the drama series Ngayon at Kailanman. The show was a consistent top rater, garnered its highest national TV rating of 34.7% in the finale. The same year, the pair starred with Kris Aquino in the film I Love You, Hater. In May 2019, she starred in the romance drama film Between Maybes opposite Gerald Anderson, her first project without Garcia in more than two years. Barretto has earned consecutive nominations for Movie Loveteam of the Year at the PMPC Star Awards for Movies from 2017 to 2022 (excluding 2020).

Continued success (2020–present)

In January 2020, she starred in the zombie thriller film Block Z. While the film performed moderately at the box office, it achieved the highest number of first day registrations by any KBO movie following its availability on iWant and ABS-CBN TVplus' KBO. In February 2020, she starred in an iWant original series I Am U opposite Tony Labrusca. In September 2020, Barretto left Star Magic and signed a management contract with Viva Artists Agency. In February 2022, she starred alongside Xian Lim and Marco Gumabao in the horror film Bahay na Pula. In September 2022, Barretto starred with Carlo Aquino in the romantic drama Expensive Candy. It marked her first venture into sexy roles and received acclaim from critics for her performance.

In 2023, Barretto was featured on the cover of Preview Magazine for their September issue, her first in over a decade. In November, she was announced as the newest calendar girl for the local liquor brand Tanduay.

In 2024, Barretto starred alongside Korean actor Sang Heon Lee and Indonesian actor Nicholas Saputra in the Viu Philippines web series entitled Secret Ingredient. She was nominated for Best Leading Female in a Digital Series at the 2024 Asian Television Awards for her performance in the series.

Barretto reunited with Garcia after four years in the 2024 romantic drama movie Un/Happy for You, which was a massive box-office success.

In May 2025, Barretto joined as Eat Bulaga! co-host during Sugod Campus, Mga Kapatid! campus tour on Cavite State University - Don Severino delas Alas Campus. Prior to joining as roster of Dabarkads, she appeared as celebrity guest on Bawal Judgemental! segment.

Other activities

Philanthropy

In 2013, Barretto encouraged her fans to support her Charity Bazaar held at Capitol Golf Club, Capitol Hills, Old Balara, Quezon City, with proceeds supporting victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Her mother and siblings joined her Charity Bazaar event.

On April 7, 2020, Julia and her sisters Dani and Claudia launched a fund raising event #ParaMayBukas to fund an emergency quarantine facility to prevent overcrowding in the hospital. The Barretto sisters were able to raise more than 600,000 thousands pesos and half of the money were used to build a COVID-19 Quarantine Facility at Fe Del Mundo Medical Centre in Quezon City and the remaining 300,000 pesos were used to buy meals and PPE or Personal Protective Equipment for health-workers.

In March 2021, she joined Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) mission with her boyfriend Gerald Anderson, Lt. Commander of PCG in distributing relief goods to 300 Aeta families. In July of the same year, Barretto participated in another Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) relief mission with her boyfriend in distributing food packs to 100 families in San Antonio, Zambales.

In November 2024, Barretto was among of the celebrities who supported the Red Charity Gala which raised over 5 million pesos for the benefit of Hope for Lupus Foundation, Philippine Red Cross and Assumption High School Batch 1981 Foundation. She donated Christmas presents to 500 scholars at the charity event with Project Pearls Learning Center in December 2024.

She took part in Run to Share event organized by I Want to Share Foundation and was able to successfully raised 1 million pesos with all the proceeds donated to pediatric cancer patients at UP-Philippine General Hospital Pedia Hema-Onco Division in April 2025.

Philippine Coast Guard

Barretto joined Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Auxiliary K9 Squadron Unit and holds the ranks of Auxiliary Ensign in September 2021. She promised to support the initiatives of the unit. She has been active in supporting several Philippine Coast Guard relief missions with her boyfriend.

Personal life

She dated actor and perennial onscreen partner Joshua Garcia in 2017. Their relationship lasted for two years.

In 2021, Barretto was in a relationship with actor and Between Maybes co-star Gerald Anderson. The latter confirmed the relationship in an interview with Boy Abunda. On September 18, 2025, Star Magic confirmed that Barretto and Anderson had ended their relationship.

Legal actions

In 2013, Barretto filed a petition before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to change her surname from Baldivia (her father's surname) to Barretto (her mother's surname). Her parents, actors Marjorie Barretto and Dennis Padilla were separated since 2007; their marriage was declared null and void in 2009 due to her father's bigamy based on NSO (National Statistic Office) records. Her representatives explained that this was to "prevent confusion" due to different surnames used in public and official records. As of 2021, Barretto reportedly still carried her father's surname in her contracts and business dealings.

In 2020, Barretto filed a legal complaint against former broadcaster Jay Sonza for cyber libel and violation of the Safe Spaces Act at the National Bureau of Investigation due to his malicious social media posts alleging her pregnancy.

Business endeavours

Barretto launched her accessory brand The Juju Club in November 2021, which sells retro clips, hats, eyewear, and rings among others.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

References

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41. (12 April 2020). "Julia Barretto, sisters raise over P650,000 in a week for quarantine facility".
42. (25 April 2020). "Emergency Quarantine Facility built via Barretto fundraiser to start operating on Saturday".
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44. (23 December 2024). "Julia Barretto, namigay ng mga regalo sa 500 scholars sa isang charity event".
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46. (13 April 2025). "Race for .fitness and children fighting cancer at Run to Share 2025".
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