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Esmeralda Tuazon, born in 1961 as the second of six children, supported her poor family by selling chewing gum. She attended Rajah Soliman High School and was introduced to producer Baby Martinez of MBM Productions through a mutual friend. This led to her casting in Bitayin Si Baby Ama (1976), the film that launched Rudy Fernandez's stardom. After her second movie, Alas (1976) with Jun Aristorenas, she took on minor roles in several films before stepping away from acting for nearly a year. Returning in mid-1977, she became a contract star with Jesse Ejercito's Seven Star Productions. Throughout the 1970s, she gained recognition in films such as 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 starring in two significant 1979 films, Ishmael Bernal's Aliw and Lino Brocka's Jaguar, Austria secured a leading role in Nang Bumuka Ang Sampaguita (1980). During an era when female roles in Filipino cinema were strong and groundbreaking, she remained active with films like Langis at Tubig (1980), Sugat Sa Ugat (1980), Goriong Butete (1980), Tondo Girl (1981), Pusong Uhaw (1982), and Waywaya (1982). In the 1990s and into the 21st century, she continued delivering powerful supporting performances in The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), Muro-ami (1999), and Pagdating ng Panahon (2001), starring Sharon Cuneta. Austria has earned two Best Actress awards for Brutal (1980) from the Film Academy of Movie Arts & Sciences (FAMAS) and the Metro Manila Film Festival. She also won three Best Actress awards for Celestina Sanchez A.K.A. Bubbles (1988) from the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), and the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Additionally, she received three Best Supporting Actress awards: for Jaguar (1979) from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino ("Gawad Urian Awards"); for Narito Ang Puso Ko (1992) from both the URIAN and the FAP; and for Anak (2000) from the FAP. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Mano Po (2002) by FAMAS. Alongside Phillip Salvador and the late director Lino Brocka, she represented the Philippines at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival, where Jaguar was featured in the Directors' Fortnight.
