Kapamilya actress Julia Montes turned emotional as she recalled why her television comeback project, Saving Grace, is very special and personal to her.

In her exclusive interview with MJ Felipe, Julia shared that her latest upcoming series is the last project she and the late Dreamscape Entertainment head Deo Endrinal discussed.

“Special kasi talaga sa akin iyong project (Saving Grace) kasi iyon yung last na usap namin ni Sir Deo,” she told MJ.

The Kapamilya actress went on: “Yung plan for ‘Saving Grace’ is really big and iyong story, ang ganda noong story and maganda yung lesson and story na gusto sabihin ng serye.”

Julia then recalled how the story and the title are somewhat related to her relationship with the late ABS-CBN executive. 

“Special sa akin kasi parang, siguro, tanggalin natin yung ‘grace’ sa title, ‘Saving Mara (her real name)’. Sinave ako ni Sir Deo… in many ways, personal, career,” she expressed.

“I felt na ever since, isa talaga si Sir Deo sa naniwala sa kaya ko. Going back (to) ‘Mara Clara’, never ko ineexpect na ibibigay sa aki yung Clara role. But Sir Deo sabi niya, ‘Hindi. Kaya mo ‘yan,’” she remarked.

“Siya ang laging nagpapaalala na kaya ko. So ngayon, siyempre, iba na (that he's gone),” she added.

READ: Deo Endrinal passes away

Julia also revealed that she had questioned herself if she was ready to make her comeback. Fortunately, Deo continued to encourage her and make her feel more confident in saying "yes" to the series.

“Natakot ako. Kasi lahat naman po ng binibigay sa 'kin, napapaisip ako, ‘Kaya ko ba? 'Yun ang lagi kong question. Pero nung nakausap ko nga si Sir Deo, sabi niya, ‘Gawin mo ito. It’s for you.’ Na-kampante na 'ko kasi siya 'yung… nandiyan naman siya lagi,” she emotionally said.

In her acceptance speech at the 7th EDDYS ceremony last July 7, Julia honored the late Kapamilya executive as he was one of the people who believed in her capabilities as an actress.

“At siyempre hinding-hindi ko po makakalimutan si Sir Deo sa lahat ng roles na binibigay niya po sa akin. First adult roles, first serious roles na binigay niya po, siya po ang unang naniwala sa akin,” she expressed.

“Sir Deo, ‘yung pangako ko po sa inyo, pasensiya na medyo nahuli, pero para po ito sa inyo,” she said, offering her Best Actress award for her movie, Five Breakups and A Romance with Alden Richards.

READ: Julia Montes bags her first-ever Best Actress Award for a movie

Julia last appeared on television in the final season of the hit Kapamilya primetime show, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, with her reel-to-real life partner Coco Martin.

Saving Grace is the Philippine adaptation of the hit 2010 Japanese series, Mother. The show is a collaboration between ABS-CBN Studios and Japan’s leading entertainment powerhouse, Nippon TV. 

The local adaptation is the tenth version of the show that has been exported to different countries like Thailand, Turkey, Spain, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, China, and more.

Based on the synopsis available online, Mother is the story of an elementary school teacher who sees the abuse done by a mother to one of her students. The lead character’s maternal instincts kick in and she decides to take the student under her wing. 

READ: Julia Montes makes acting comeback with ‘Saving Grace’

As per Dreamscape, Julia will be joined by several stars who will soon be revealed.

"Ngayon na. Ngayon na siya matutuloy and special siya sa akin kasi hindi pwedeng hindi ko siya gawin kasi ito yung pinangako ko kay Sir Deo. I felt ever since si Sir Deo talaga yung naniwala sa (kakayahan) ko," she said in a video.

“Indeed, there is no other actress for this very important role. The lights are on as the prime actress steps forward to take on a new challenge,” Dreamscape penned.