From the first time we saw her onscreen as an adorable child actress on Goin’ Bulilit to her now heart-pounding appearance as the courageous nurse Mia Agbayani on the weekly action drama 24/7, Julia Montes has a commanding, captivating presence that leaves us smitten.

Regardless if the character she portrays is the demure, righteous protagonist, the despicable villain, or a kickass action heroine, Julia’s breathtaking beauty still shines through. And we see this in this fascinating gallery of her beautiful transformation through the years as we celebrate her birthday.

Even while she was on hiatus for a few years, Julia’s gorgeousness on top of her incredible acting prowess has definitely been unforgettable. She still hogged the headline while she was away, with people anticipating her return after her successful string of afternoon dramas that made her the Daytime Drama Queen, which included Asintado and Doble Kara.

Julia’s craft is topnotch, as evidenced not only by the acclaim she receives from critics and showbiz observers, but also from her co-actors as well praising her for her professionalism and deep characterization.

But above that, she remained humble and unassuming in real life; cheerful and friendly to those around her.

This is where her true beauty flourishes—one that goes deeper than her already gorgeous look—a wonderful person everyone appreciates.

Happy birthday, Julia! Wishing you more success to come!