# Amy Austria

Esmeralda Dizon Tuazon-Ventura (born December 13, 1961), known professionally as Amy Austria (Tagalog:), is a Filipino film and television actress. She is a recipient of a FAMAS Award, 2 Gawad Urian Awards, 3 FAP Awards and 4 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 movie 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 movie scene 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). At a time when female parts in Filipino cinema were strong and revolutionary, Austria became a busy actress: Langis at Tubig (1980), Sugat sa Ugat (1980), Goriong Butete (1980), Tondo Girl (1981), Pusong Uhaw (1982) and Waywaya (1982). In the 1990s and well into the 21st century, she still gives powerful supporting performances, in The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), Muro-ami (1999), Anak (2000), Pagdating ng Panahon (2001), a Sharon Cuneta starrer and I Will Always Love You (2006) starring Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin. Anak is her second reunion movie 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 highly acclaimed International Primetime drama Pangako Sa 'Yo or more well known as "The Promise" from 2000 to 2002 on ABS-CBN as Lourdes in 2003, she starred in GMA-7 oriented programs such as Kirara Anong Kulay Nang Pag Ibig? The Fantasy TV Series Mulawin from 2004 to 2005 and the movie adaptation turned Grand Finale of the series which was featured in 2005's Metro Manila Film Festival in her reprising role. 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 TV 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 (Movie Channel ABS-CBN Subsidiaries) 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.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1977 | Dabiana | Susan Romero |
| 1980 | Brutal | Monica Real |
| 1980 | Langis at Tubig | Pilar Jarlego |
| 1984 | May Lamok sa Loob ng Kulambo | Ester Bayung-bayongan Jr. |
| 1995 | Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara | Arlene |
| 1995 | Campus Girls | Criselda |
| 1995 | The Flor Contemplacion Story | Delia Maga |
| 1996 | In My Own Hand | Anne |
| 1996 | Kristo | Mary Magdalene |
| 1996 | Nananabik... Sa 'yong Pagbabalik | |
| 1996 | Trudis Lilt | Magna |
| 1997 | Anak ng Dilim | Magda |
| 1997 | Ako Lang sa Langit | Bebang |
| 1997 | Frats | |
| 1998 | Shirley | |
| 1999 | Anak ng Dilim | Magda |
| 1999 | Bullet | |
| 1999 | Muro-Ami | Susan |
| 2000 | Anak | Lyn |
| 2001 | Hostage | Via Morales |
| 2001 | Pagdating ng Panahon | Ate Soni |
| 2001 | Bagong Buwan | Fatima |
| 2002 | Mga Munting Tinig | Luz |
| 2002 | Mano Po | Linda Go-dela Madrid |
| 2003 | Magnifico | Tessie |
| 2003 | Babae sa Breakwater | Jovy |
| 2004 | Annie B. | |
| 2004 | Singles | |
| 2004 | Beautiful Life | Benita |
| 2004 | Mano Po III: My Love | Lilia's mother |
| 2005 | Mulawin: The Movie | Lourdes |
| 2006 | I Will Always Love You | Encar |
| 2019 | Man and Wife | Idad |

### Television

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

## Awards and nominations

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