ollywood beckons to Julia Clarete! The 26-year-old actress gets the chance to work in Tinseltown , USA , after winning ABS-5's weekly reality series Hollywood Dream.

In a gut-wrenching finale—held on November 20 at the ABC-5 compound in Novaliches, Quezon City —Julia learned that she had triumphed over co-finalist Raymond Bagatsing by a 4-3 vote of the seven Hollywood experts who served as the final judges of the show.

The series, which started in July 2005 and was conceptualized by Filipino-American producer-director Romeo Joven, aims to promote Pinoy talents abroad.

Of the hundreds of performers from television, film, theater, and advertising who auditioned, 15 finalists were chosen to take part in rigorous acting challenges in order to win the plum prize: a chance to work in Hollywood and snag a US Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card in the process.

Every week, the finalists were tested in the different genres—horror, drama, musical, action, comedy. They were also judged based on their looks, marketability, and creativity.

Early on in the competition, Julia's outstanding performances already captured the discerning eyes of the regular judges. One of those judges, Armida Siguion-Reyna, made no secret of her admiration for Julia: “From the beginning, consistent na consistent ang rating ko sa kanya. On a scale of one to ten, hindi bumaba ng nine.”

Despite her frail appearance, Julia is no weakling. That was clear during the dramatization of her extraordinary life story on GMA-7's Magpakailanman. Among her other pains, the show bared that Julia had survived sexual abuse by a cousin at a very young age.

By October 2005, only two finalists were left: Julia and Raymond. The two were flown to Los Angeles , California , for the final test. There, they lived the life of struggling actors. For five days, they had to work all afternoon as walking signboards, advertising a hotdog stand. The 5-foot-4 actress who admits it was her first time to go to the US , found the experience enjoyable.

But it wasn't all hard work. They were later brought to the Regent Beverly Wiltshire Hotel and billeted in the penthouse no less! In between their tours of Hollywood landmarks, they were made to audition for the seven American judges. Here's a recap of the judges' choices, as aired on the program.

Terri Berland, casting director for more than 300 commercials, and Paul Emami, film and television commercial director, both voted for Raymond. They said the actor had confidence and charisma.

Hollywood film producer Henry Capanna gave his vote to Julia. In his opinion, she was more commercially viable.

The lead went early to Raymond, as he was also the choice of the fourth judge, Mike Fenton, casting director for E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Back to the Future. “I think women would like him,” Mike remarked.

Hollywood film producers Bryan Brucks and Jeff Rice were the fifth and sixth judges and they gave their vote to Julia. “She reminds me a lot of Zhang Ziyi,” said Bryan , referring to the Chinese actress who made it big with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Julia, Bryan added, “seems delicate, but there's a presence there.”

Wit the vote standing at 3-3, the deciding judge—talent agent Scott Karp, who is also the manager of the William Morris Talent Agency—broke the tie by choosing Julia. “She's a little fresher, younger, with more potential,” Scott said. “And she has the ability to be a leading lady.”

With that, Julia's future was sealed. Eric Quizon officially announced her as the winner with these magic words: “Julia you're going to Hollywood !”

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