Sa kabila ng pagiging mahigpit na magkaribal nila nong dekada ’90, naging malapit na magkaibigan sina Claudine Barretto at Judy Ann Santos.

Sa panayam niya sa Fast Talk with Boy Abunda ngayong Biyernes ng hapon, Mayo 5, 2023, isiniwalat ni Claudine na pinagbawalan sila ng pumanaw na manager ni Judy Ann na si Alfie Lorenzo na makita silang magkasama dahil sa rivalry nila na binuo noon ng kanilang mga tagasuporta.

Pagbabalik-tanaw ni Claudine, “You know, Judy Ann and I, people think we don’t get along, we never got along.

“But in truth is that even nung debut niya [May 1996 ], right after, I remember that was a Sunday and everything was closed, the after-party was in my condominium…”

Pagpapatuloy niya: “ Ang dami naming pinagdaanan ni Judy Ann. It’s just that during that time, we couldn’t… kumbaga, para kaming mag-boyfriend-girlfriend ni Judy Ann.

“Bawal kaming makita sa labas kasi ayaw ni Tito Alfie. Kasi dapat daw ala-Nora-Vilma. Parang ganyan.”

Noong November 2009, lumipat si Claudine sa GMA-7 matapos ang matagal na panahong exclusive contract star siya ng ABS-CBN.

Ayon kay Claudine, hindi niya malilimutan hanggang kamatayan ang mga naging pahayag ni Judy Ann tungkol sa kanya.

“I would never forget what Judy Ann did to me, that’s why she is who she is. Judy Ann Santos is Judy Ann Santos.

“At my lowest point, when I also transferred from Channel 2 to Channel 7, in one of her interviews, they said that she’s [Judy Ann] the Teleserye Queen. And she said ‘No. Claudine and I share this title.’

“I will never forget that moment ’til the day I die.

“And our dream is to be able to do a movie together and I will be forever grateful for Judy Ann Santos…and queen supports queens,” pahayag ni Claudine tungkol sa mataas na respeto at malaking pagpapahalaga niya kay Judy Ann.