Amy Austria

Esmeralda Dizon Tuazon-Ventura (born December 13, 1961), professionally known as Amy Austria , is a Filipino film and television actress. She is a recipient of a FAMAS Award, two Gawad Urian Awards, three FAP Awards and four MMFF Awards (including three Best Actress wins).

The Philippine Star listed Austria among the 15 Best Actresses of All Time. In 2019, Austria was inducted at the Hall of Fame at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Life and career Esmeralda Dizon Tuazon is the second to the eldest among six children born in 1961 to an impoverished family. She helped the family by selling chewing gum. She studied at the Rajah Soliman High School. She was introduced to the producer Baby Martinez of MBM Productions through a common friend. She was then cast in Bitayin si... Baby Ama? (1976), the film that made a star of Rudy Fernandez. After her second film, Alas (1976), with Jun Aristorenas, she was given minor parts in several other pictures then dropped out of the film industry for almost a year. When she came back in mid-1977, contract star of Jesse Ejercito's Seven Star Productions. She became quite visible in the 1970s, in such films like Dabiana (1977), Miss Dulce Amor, Ina (1978), Atsay (1978), Menor de Edad (1979), Gabun: Ama Mo, Ama Ko (1979), Bedspacers (1979) and Swing It, Baby (1979). After acting in two very relevant films for 1979, Ishmael Bernal's Aliw and Lino Brocka's Jaguar, Austria was finally a lead star in Nang Bumuka Ang Sampaguita (1980). Throughout the first half of the 1980s, Austria became a busy actress: Langis at Tubig (1980), Sugat sa Ugat (1980), Goriong Butete (1980), Tondo Girl (1981), Pusong Uhaw (1982), Waywaya (1982), and May Lamok sa Loob ng Kulambo (1984).

After a three-year hiatus from lead roles, Austria was cast in 1988 for the titular role in Celestina Sanchez, a.k.a. Bubbles – Enforcer: Ativan Gang by director Carlo J. Caparas and his wife, producer Donna Villa. However, Austria was ultimately dissatisfied with how its production was handled, with the film's original 13-day shooting schedule in August extending to December, when it was needed to be screened for the organizing committee of the 1988 Metro Manila Film Festival in order to qualify. On December 20, 1988, five days before the festival, she filed a lawsuit against Caparas and Villa for injunction and damages after they used another person to dub her voice in the film, while Caparas later testified that she did not appear during the recording session for her character's dialogue in time for the film's committee screening.

In the 1990s and well into the 21st century, she continued to receive acclaim for her supporting performances, such as in The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), Muro-Ami (1999), Anak (2000), Pagdating ng Panahon (2001), and I Will Always Love You (2006). Anak is her second reunion film with Vilma Santos, after Langis at Tubig and Paano Ba ang Mangarap?.

In the 2000s, Austria came back to acting Via small screen in 2000; she was part of the television drama Pangako sa 'Yo (known in English as The Promise) from 2000 to 2002 on ABS-CBN as Lourdes in 2003, she starred in GMA-7 oriented programs such as Kirara, Ano'ng Kulay ng Pag-ibig?, the fantasy series Mulawin from 2004 to 2005 and its film adaptation. She also made an appearance on another GMA program entitled Narito ang Puso Ko.

In 2006, she returned to ABS-CBN for the television remake of Bituing Walang Ningning, which was extended for another month. She played a new character in the TV series made by novelist and comic creator Nerissa Cabral as an antagonist and mother to Angelika Dela Cruz's lead character Lavina as Barbara Arguelles the stage mother and con artist who has a share of her downfall. The series attained 42% percent high share in television ratings. This was her second screentime with Dela Cruz. Austria accepted another for another Primetime Drama from a classic film and remake Walang Kapalit as a supporting character again from 2008 to 2010. She took a break from offers from TV and film.

In 2011, she accepted the military primetime drama Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, which aired from March 7, 2011, to August 19, 2011. She took the role with the help from her cousin Lorna Tolentino and reunited her fellow veteran screen actors, such as Boots Anson Roa, Ronaldo Valdez, and Tonton Gutierrez, and John Estrada and her first with Coco Martin, and Maja Salvador and Andi Eigenmann.

In 2012, she starred in Lorenzo's Time with Zaijan Jaranilla, In 2013, she was seen on the lifestyle entertainment talk show Inside the Cinema with Boy Abunda on Cinema One, and in 2014, she became a part of Ikaw Lamang on its second Book as the older version of Kim Chiu's character Isabel with fellow award-winning actors Joel Torre, Rio Locsin, Nonie Buencamino, and Christopher de Leon and also her reunion with Coco Martin, on their second series appearances. In 2015, she was seen in remake of Pangako Sa 'Yo as the adoptive mother of Kathryn Bernardo's character.

After she became part of the primetime television series Halik as the mother of Jericho Rosales' character, Austria returned to GMA Network for One of the Baes and Hearts on Ice, respectively.

Personal life Austria was previously married to actor Jay Ilagan. In 1999, she married Duke Ventura.

Austria admitted to previously having a drug addiction, particularly methamphetamine, for six years, which ended after Christopher de Leon introduced her to a religious retreat.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 1976 Bitayin si... Baby Ama? Ang Bulag, ang Pipi at ang Bingi Tsuperstar 1977 Ang Pagbabalik ni Harabas at Bulilit Binata ang Daddy Ko! Dabiana Susan Romero 1978 Blood Run Sabi Barok, Lab Ko Dabiana Isinilang Ko'y Hindi Ko Tunay Na Anak Miss Dulce Amor, Ina Atsay Garrote: Jai-Alai King Salonga 1979 Menor de Edad Swing It... Baby! Kay Haba ng Gabi, Kay Iksi ng Umaga Shoot-to-Kill Jaguar Cristy Montes Gabun: Ama Mo, Ama Ko Aliw Bedspacers 1980 Totoy Balasa Hepe Uhaw sa Kalayaan Nang Bumuka ang Sampaguita Sugat sa Ugat Alaga Playmates Brutal Monica Real Langis at Tubig Pilar Jarlego 1981 Kontrobersyal! Carla Rivera Laya Cover Girls Ako ang Hari Burgis Nedy Pabling Hotel House Detective Tondo Girl Caught in the Act Cedes 1982 Pusong Uhaw Waywaya Kumander Elpidio Paclibar Berdugo Katas ng Langis Bad Boy from Dadiangas 1983 Palabra de Honor Paano Ba ang Mangarap? Lintik Lang ang Walang Ganti! 1984 Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap May Lamok sa Loob ng Kulambo Ester Bayung-bayongan Jr. Mga Batang Yagit 1985 Escort Girls Hinugot sa Langit Stella 1987 Ibigay Mo sa Akin ang Bukas 1988 Celestina Sanchez, a.k.a. Bubbles – Enforcer: Ativan Gang Celestina "Bubbles" Sanchez 1992 Narito ang Puso Ko Dolly Sanchez 1993 Kung Mawawala Ka Pa 1995 Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara Arlene Campus Girls Criselda The Flor Contemplacion Story Delia Maga 1996 Sa Aking mga Kamay Anne Kristo Mary Magdalene Nananabik... Sa 'yong Pagbabalik Trudis Liit Magna 1997 Anak ng Dilim Magda Ako Lang sa Langit Bebang Frats 1998 Shirley 1999 Anak ng Dilim Magda Bullet Muro-Ami Susan 2000 Anak Lyn 2001 Hostage Via Morales Pagdating ng Panahon Ate Soni Bagong Buwan Fatima 2002 Small Voices Luz Mano Po Linda Go-dela Madrid 2003 Magnifico Tessie Woman of Breakwater Jovy 2004 Annie B. Singles Beautiful Life Benita Mano Po III: My Love Lilia's mother 2005 Mulawin: The Movie Lourdes 2006 I Will Always Love You Encar 2015 The Last Pinoy Action King Herself 2019 Man and Wife Idad

Television Year Title Role 1983–1985 Yagit Dolor 1995–1996 Kadenang Kristal Kristal 1999 Kirara, Ano ang Kulay ng Pag-ibig? Rose 2000 Umulan Man o Umaraw Chona 2000–2002 Pangako Sa 'Yo Lourdes Magpantay-Buenavista 2003–2004 Narito ang Puso Ko Elsa Campuspos 2004–2005 Mulawin Lourdes 2004 Magpakailanman 2005 Now and Forever: Mukha Fatima 2005–2006 Sugo Graciela 2006 Bituing Walang Ningning Barbara Arguelles 2007 Walang Kapalit Ceding 2011 Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin Lora Sebastiano-del Tierro / Rosa Sta. Maria 2012 Tanikala: Ang Ikaapat ng Yugto - Unos Lupe Lorenzo's Time Mildred Montereal-Gamboa 2014 Ikaw Lamang Señora Isabelle Miravelez-Hidalgo 2015–2016 Pangako sa 'Yo Belen Macaspac 2017 The Promise of Forever Olivia Ortega-Borja 2018–2019 Halik Dolores "Dolor" Salvador-Bartolome 2019 Magpakailanman 2019–2020 One of the Baes Josephine "Jo" Rubio / Josephine De La Cruz Aragoza 2019 Dear Uge: Monito Monita Chynna 2020 24/7 Lourdes Jacinto 2023 Hearts on Ice Liberty "Libay" Bravo-Martinez Magpakailanman 2024 Shining Inheritance Rosario 2025 Magpakailanman Mommy Dearest Ligaya Espiritu Tadhana: Fake Love Pilar Sanggang-Dikit FR Mrs. Ellen Sison 2026 Magpakailanman: Ang Inang Di Sumuko Minerva Panganiban Kamao Gloria Panganiban

Awards and nominations Year Award/Category Nominated work Result 1979 FAMAS Award Best Supporting Actress for Atsay 1980 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress for Brutal 1980 Gawad Urian Award Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres) for Jaguar 1981 FAMAS Award Best Actress for Brutal 1982 Gawad Urian Award Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres) for Ako ang Hari 1986 Gawad Urian Award Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres) for Hinugot sa langit 1986 FAMAS Award Best Supporting Actress for Hinugot sa langit 1988 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress for Celestina Sanchez 1989 Catholic Mass media Award Best Actress for Celestina Sanchez 1989 FAP Award Best Actress for Celestina Sanchez 1989 FAMAS Award Best Actress for Celestina Sanchez 1993 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actress for Kung Mawawala Ka Pa 1993 Gawad Urian Award Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres) for Narito ang Puso Ko 1993 FAP Award Best Supporting Actress for Narito ang puso ko 1994 Gawad Urian Award Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres) for Kung Mawawala Ka Pa 1994 FAMAS Award Best Supporting Actress for Kung Mawawala Ka Pa 1996 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress for Trudis Liit 1996 Gawad Urian Award Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres) for Nena 1996 Young Critics Circle, Philippines Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role for Nena 2001 FAP Award Best Supporting Actress for The Child 2002 FAMAS Awards Best Actress for New Moon 2003 Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres) for Mano Po 2003 FAMAS Awards Best Supporting Actress for Mano Po 2005 FAP Awards, Philippines Best Supporting Actress for Beautiful Life 2005 Golden Screen Awards, Philippines Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Drama) for Beautiful Life 2005 ENPRESS Golden Screen Entertainment TV Awards Outstanding Lead Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Mulawin 2011 25th Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actress for Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin 2012 Eastwood City Walk Of Fame Celebrity Inductee 2013 27th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Supporting Actress for Lorenzo's Time 2014 28th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Supporting Actress for Ikaw Lamang 2015 29th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Supporting Actress for Pangako sa 'Yo