Actress Julia Barretto recently reflected on the controversies she faced in her career.

During a media conference for her upcoming entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival, Hold Me Close, alongside Carlo Aquino, the actress confidently shared her thoughts on the lessons she learned during the challenging times.

“In general, I think challenges like controversies don’t define who we are, I think what defines [us] is who we become out of it and how we become better,” the actress told the press.

According to the actress, despite the challenges she has faced along the way, she chooses to continue her passion as an actress.

“I love what I do so much and it’s giving me an outlet and an escape and it’s really a form of expressing, releasing, and it’s an unexplainable feeling when we stepped on the set. So I guess 'yung ibang mga bagay, kailangan magpakatatag. You really have to pick up the lesson in every challenges actually, there’s something to learn from it,” she stated.

The actress is also grateful to the people who always believed in her as she poured her emotions into her crafts.

“The word that always just comes out from me is just I’m so grateful. Of course, there’s a lot of challenges that come from my personal journey. And I always feel, like, I’m trying my best and giving my 100 percent from every opportunity that is given to me and it really does, and when I hear feedback it really leaves me speechless when you put it that way,” she added.

Based on her experiences, the actress shares advice for others who face similar challenges.

“I think ayun lang, I’m just going to keep it short. That’s in general. Hardships in life don’t define who we are and don’t represent our heart, and it’s always [how] we rise above it,” she said.

It can be recalled that Barretto and actress Bea Alonzo — were involved in a controversy with Gerald Anderson in 2019.