Julia Barretto has joked about being “flat,” but honestly—she looks stunning exactly as she is. Some people just prove that beauty isn’t about measurements, and Julia does that effortlessly. Whatever she feels she “lacks,” she more than makes up for with her striking features, charm, and undeniable screen presence.
She’s not just gorgeous, either. Julia is talented, charismatic, and carries herself with the kind of confidence that makes you realize there’s so much more to her than her looks—celestial as they may be.
Who is Julia Barretto
Julia Barretto is a Filipino actress, , and entrepreneur born on March 10, 1997—basically someone who’s been booked and busy since childhood. She rose from adorable child star to rom-com leading lady, starring in fan favorites like Vince & Kath & James and Love You to the Stars & Back. And because one career apparently isn’t enough, she also launched her own lifestyle brand, The Juju Club, proving she’s got business brains to match her on-screen charm.
Showbiz runs in her DNA—she’s part of the well-known Barretto-Padilla clan, with parents Dennis Padilla and Marjorie Barretto. Talent clearly didn’t skip a generation, because Julia’s picked up her fair share of recognition over the years, including two FAMAS Awards and three Box Office Entertainment Awards, plus nominations from the Asian Television Awards and Luna Awards.
Her Early Life
Julia Francesca Barretto Baldivia was born on March 10, 1997, in Marikina, Philippines—basically destined for the spotlight from day one. She’s the daughter of actors Dennis Padilla and Marjorie Barretto, and her family tree is packed with showbiz royalty, including her aunts Claudine and Gretchen Barretto. So yeah, talent is the family business.
She finished grade school at Miriam College in 2011 and continued there for her first two years of high school, where she even played varsity volleyball in the WNCAA (yes, she was already multitasking: student, athlete, future star. In 2013, after signing with Star Magic, she transferred to St. Paul College Pasig under their curriculum for professional talents—a very fitting move for someone about to enter the entertainment world full-time. She graduated high school in 2015, diploma in hand and career already taking off.
Career Journey
Julia Barretto kicked off her career as a child actress, making her screen debut in Gulong ng Palad (2006). After a string of supporting roles, she became a household name as Anna in the fantasy series Kokey (2007), followed by an appearance in the action drama Palos. By 2011, she was already turning heads at the Star Magic Ball—she even won Princess of the Night the following year, which is extremely on brand for someone ascending to showbiz royalty.
In 2013, she was officially launched as part of the Star Magic Circle, and by 2014 she landed her first lead role in the drama series Mirabella. That same year, she received the German Moreno Youth Achievement Award at the FAMAS Awards—proof that people were taking note of her rising-star energy.
Julia made her film debut in 2015 with the teen romance Para sa Hopeless Romantic, earning a FAMAS nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She continued building her reputation in rom-coms and dramas, and by 2016 she starred in the hit film Vince & Kath & James, one of the top earners at that year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. The success continued with Love You to the Stars and Back (2017), which was both a box-office hit and a critical favorite. Her performance even earned her Best Actress nominations at the FAMAS and Luna Awards.
In 2019, she returned to the big screen with the romance drama Between Maybes. From 2017 to 2022 (with 2020 as the obvious exception), she consistently received nominations for Movie Loveteam of the Year at the PMPC Star Awards—credit to her on-screen chemistry skills.
Julia then surprised audiences with the zombie thriller Block Z in 2020, and later that year, she made a major career move by leaving Star Magic and signing with Viva Artists Agency. In 2022, she took on her first mature role in Expensive Candy, which earned widespread praise and showcased her range beyond romantic leads.
Her momentum continued into 2023, landing on the cover of Preview Magazine for the first time in over a decade and becoming Tanduay’s newest calendar girl—a rite of passage for many top-tier stars.
In 2024, Julia went international, starring alongside Korean actor Sang Heon Lee and Indonesian actor Nicholas Saputra in the Viu Philippines series Secret Ingredient. Her performance earned her a nomination for Best Leading Female in a Digital Series at the 2024 Asian Television Awards—another milestone in a career that just keeps leveling up.
Philantrophy
Julia Barretto has always had a heart for charity. Back in 2013, she encouraged fans to support her Charity Bazaar at the Capitol Golf Club in Quezon City, with all proceeds going to victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Her mom and siblings even joined in, making it a full-on Barretto family affair.
Fast forward to April 7, 2020, when Julia and her sisters Dani and Claudia launched the fundraising campaign #ParaMayBukas to help ease hospital overcrowding during the pandemic. They raised over ₱600,000—half went toward building a quarantine facility at Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, and the rest was used to provide meals and PPE for health workers. Not bad for a sister-powered project.
In March 2021, Julia joined a Philippine Coast Guard mission with her boyfriend Gerald Anderson, helping distribute relief goods to 300 Aeta families. By July, she was back on another PCG mission with him, this time delivering food packs to 100 families in San Antonio, Zambales. Say what you want, but that is a very wholesome date idea.
Her charitable streak continued in 2024, when she joined the Red Charity Gala, helping raise over ₱5 million for several foundations, including Hope for Lupus and the Philippine Red Cross. That same December, she donated Christmas gifts to 500 scholars at a Project Pearls event—basically becoming Santa Barretto.
In April 2025, she participated in the Run to Share event organized by the I Want to Share Foundation and helped raise ₱1 million. All proceeds went to pediatric cancer patients at the UP–Philippine General Hospital’s Pedia Hema-Onco Division, proving once again that Julia doesn’t just show up for roles—she shows up for people.
Facts and Trivia
In September 2021, Julia Barretto officially joined the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary K9 Squadron Unit, earning the rank of Auxiliary Ensign. She pledged to support the unit’s initiatives and has since been active in several PCG relief missions—often alongside her then-boyfriend, proving that service work can double as quality time.
Julia previously dated actor and frequent onscreen partner Joshua Garcia in 2017, with their relationship lasting two years. In 2021, she entered a relationship with her Between Maybes co-star Gerald Anderson, which he confirmed in an interview with Boy Abunda. On September 18, 2025, Star Magic announced that the two had parted ways.
Back in 2013, Julia 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). Her parents had separated in 2007, and their marriage was later declared null and void in 2009 due to bigamy. Julia’s representatives explained that the surname change was meant to avoid confusion since she was publicly known as Barretto. As of 2021, though, she reportedly continued using her father’s surname for contracts and business matters—showbiz paperwork is a world of its own.
In 2020, Julia filed a legal complaint against former broadcaster Jay Sonza for cyber libel and violation of the Safe Spaces Act following false and harmful claims he made online.
And because she doesn’t just act—she multitasks like a pro—Julia launched her accessory brand The Juju Club in November 2021. The brand features retro clips, hats, eyewear, rings, and other fun pieces, making it clear she has an eye for business as well as style.
Julia Barretto Photos
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