Written by DandTMartin4ever
Born: Julia Santos Alias: Angela Hawkins (in the Witness Protection Program)
Mother: Isabella Santos
Father: Hector Santos (deceased)
Siblings:
Dr. Maria Santos Grey- Sister
Anita Santos Warner - Sister
Mateo Santos- Brother
Rosa Santos- Sister
Married to: Noah Keefer (deceased)
Occupation: Nurse
Julia
Santos was an embarrassment to the Santos family, or so she believed. She felt
since her family was already ashamed of her, she would give them something to
talk about. The last straw was when Isabella Santos walked in on the young Julia
with a much older man. She was sent packing from their San Antonio ranch to
join big sister Maria Santos in small town Pine Valley in hopes Maria’s
good traits would rub off on her.
Julia first encountered Maria’s current boyfriend Edmund Grey
at Maria’s apartment, she wearing nothing but a towel. That was an indication
of what was to come for Pine Valley’s 
newest
vixen. She first set her sights on good boy Terrence Frye. Terrence thought
that it was his responsibility to tame Julia. But, Julia could not be tamed.
Their romance only ignited more flames when Taylor Roxbury Cannon came into
the picture. Taylor wanted her step-brother for herself. Julia let Terrence
go, and with that Taylor’s interest waned as well.
Julia’s promiscuous activities proved not to hinder Maria and
Edmund’s budding romance. The two married, and all the Santos family made
their to Pine Valley. Julia made herself comfortable in Wildwind. Julia started
dating Maria’s ex-college sweetheart Del Henry. Del was using his relationship
with Julia to grow closer to Maria again. So, Julia turned her interest to Anton
Lang. She respected Dimitri Marick’s brooding ward. Anton was interested
in Kendall Hart, Erica Marick’s daughter. Julia did not trust Kendall,
knowing she had seen
opportunist like her before. Julia became Anton’s confidant, as both their
lives took a dramatic turn.
Julia was one of many at the Valley Inn to witness the recommitment ceremony
between Adam and Gloria Chandler. Unbeknownst to the guests that evening, a
tornado was on its way and had the Valley Inn in its sight. It came crashing
down as soon as the crowd got the first warning. Maria was tending to the injured
when Julia noticed the chandelier above her was swaying. Julia jumped in and
pushed Maria out of the way. When 
she
got up, a severe scar had disfigured her face. Maria tended to her injured sister
and sewed her up as best she could under the circumstances. At the hospital,
a distraught Julia didn't want anyone to see her the way she was and fled.
Julia wandered her way to neighboring slum, Center City. A mysterious man noticed
her, and followed the obviously out of place woman around. When she turned and
attacked him, he remained stoic, instead leading her to his home and offering
her a towel. Julia finally saw the face of the man who saved her, Noah Keefer.
But Noah's intentions were not at first honorable. Believing Julia to be a hooker,
he bought her a flashy new dress and tried to get her out on the streets to
make money for him. Before too long though, it became clear to him that Julia
was not what he thought her to be.
Julia was in a self-destruct mode. She didn't know what or who she was without
her beauty. Noah made her see a new side of herself. Julia remained in Center
City for the summer with her new friend. The two had an obvious attraction to
each other but neither wanted to admit it. One night when Noah was out, Julia
ran into a drug dealer Louie Greco. Louie saw this as his opportunity to welcome
Julia to the new neighborhood. Louie raped her. Alone, naked and traumatized
is how Noah found her in his apartment. He picked her up in his arms and put
her in a warm bath. He slowly and lovingly bathed her, while secretly raging
and ready to kill Louie. It was time to return home, and she soon left C City
for Wildwind.
There, Maria helped her cope with her rape. She soon found out she was pregnant
by her rapist and opted to have an abortion. Julia also 
had
reconstructive surgery to cover her scar. Julia and Maria bonded and became
closer then ever before. Maria even arranged for Julia to go through nurse’s
training. Soon, both sisters were working at Pine Valley Hospital. Life in Pine
Valley was good for Julia, but she could not forget her time in Center City,
especially Noah. Noah now had a job as a hospital orderly. Slowly, they rekindled
their connection, but Julia could not commit to the man who reminded her so
much about her rape.
Taylor saw Julia’s latest catch and wanted him too. She told
Noah all the tales of Julia promiscuous past. Julia’s constant rejection
of Noah only pushed he and Taylor closer to each other. They shared a night
of passion, which lead to Taylor’s “pregnancy.” Julia was
suspicious, but did not want to lead Noah on to her true feelings. Taylor later
claimed to have miscarried. Noah decided to commit to Julia fully.
Having been released from prison, it was Louie who now stood in their way. When
Noah caught him stalking Julia, he att
acked
him. Noah went to prison, and Louie kidnapped Julia. When Noah got out, he turned
to Taylor to help him track Louie down. When they encountered each other, there
was a struggle. Louie brandished a gun, and Noah pushed him making him fall
and crack his skull on a steel beam, killing him. Taylor assured Noah that he
was defending himself against Louie, but at the same time she had stolen Louie’s
gun. Without evidence of self-defense, Noah was arrested for Louie’s murder
on the day he was to marry Julia.
Julia, with the help of her brother Mateo Santos and friend Hayley
Vaughan, helped Noah break out of prison. The fugitives went on the run in Jamaica.
Taylor was in hot pursuit, if she could not have Noah, no one would. Julia and
Taylor had an altercation on the top of a waterfall where Julia seemingly fell
to her death. In actuality, it was all part of the Julia and Noah’s plan
to have Taylor incriminate herself. Julia visited Taylor in the form of a “ghost.”
Taylor admitted to the location of the gun. With the evidence in hand, they
returned to Pine Valley and the open arms of the Santos family who had been
waiting for their return. 
Julia and Noah were ready to embark on their life together. Edmund and Maria
opened up Wildwind to the couple so they could have the wedding of their dreams.
They threw a fairy tale “Cinderella” inspired ceremony. The couple
was finally happy, a happiness that would be short lived.
Julia had already befriended Noah’s family, or rather, what she knew of
them. She adored his Aunt Grace, and was becoming fast friends with Noah’s
sister Belinda Keefer. But Noah’s past came to haunt him in the form of
his absentee mother, Rose. Rose was in deep with a criminal group lead by a
man named Slade. Slade wanted to take Belinda hostage in exchange for Rose.
Julia was on her way to pick up Belinda after work when she saw Slade shoot
Belinda point blank in front of her office. Luckily, Julia got away without
anyone seeing. The event traumatized her so much, that she could not remember
the face of the shooter. Maria referred her to a psychiatrist, who helped her
remember the night’s events. Julia was a key witness in putting Slade
away. But, the danger was still ever present. The Federal Government revealed
Slade was part of a larger crime ring, one that would claim retribution on the
Keefers if they knew Julia was the witness who put him away. Noah and Julia
made the hard decision to go into the Witness Protection Program. Julia not
only had to say goodbye to her new home in Pine Valley, but also the family
she was only beginning to reconnect with.
Julia returned to Pine Valley one year later for Mateo’s wedding to Hayley
Vaughan. The occasion was not a happy one as months earlier she learned that
Maria died in a plane crash. She shared her concerns with Mateo over the suspicious
nature of the plane crash. Their reunion was cut short so that Julia could return
to the safety of the WPP. 
Years later, Julia got a piece of wonderful news: Maria was found alive. Mateo
arranged, with the help of Federal Agent Chris Stamp, a reunion for the sisters
that Christmas. Unfortunately, Maria was suffering from temporary amnesia. But,
seeing Julia sparked some of her memories surrounding the events of the tornado.
Maria was hiding her injured beau Aidan Devane in the hayloft at Wildwind. Julia
wanted to know if Maria loved Aidan, but Maria was unsure. After the holidays,
Julia again returned to her new alias, hopeful that her sister would remember
the details of her past.
Life on the run in Witness Protection took its toll on both Noah and Julia. Noah decided to put an end to all of it, and track down the man who was keeping them in seclusion. When Noah confronted the Dragon, he was killed in cold blood, devasting Julia. Giving away their position, Julia was transported from alias to alias. It all became too much for her, so Julia did the one thing she could to regain her agency: she ran away.
Arriving at Wildwind, she knew that Edmund of all people could help
her find the Dragon and end her fear. But, she found the castle empty. One night,
she heard bustling and saw a strange man. She pulled a gun on him only to learn
he was Zach Slater, a man from Maria’s past. 
Zach
filled her in on what had happened in her absence. Edmund was dead, and Maria
and Anita where in California to be with Mateo. Zach promised to help Julia
hide and find the Dragon, but his new wife Kendall had other plans. Kendall’s
disdain for Julia constantly put her welfare in danger.
Julia found Tad Martin who offered her a safe place to stay. There, she caught up with Sam Grey and helped him deal with his parent’s breakup and his father’s death. She admitted her life with Noah was breaking apart too before he died. But a love that seemed unchallenged was Tad’s for Dixie. Dixie knew information about the Dragon, but Tad was not going to force her to threaten her own life. Julia decided to take matters in her own hands and confront the dragon.
Before Julia could find him, the Dragon found her. Garrett Williams
brought her to his hiding place to kill her. At the moment off truth, Dixie
arrived, giving Julia enough time to scratch a plan together. With her distraction,
Julia stabbed Garrett dead. Dixie admitted she was not who she seemed: she was
Dixie’s sister, Di Henry. Thankful for Di’s help in her liberation,
Julia stood by Di as the whole town shunned her for her deception.
Portrayed by:
Sydney Penny (1993-1996; 1997; 2002; 2005-present)