Amy Austria Biography: Movies, Husband, Parents, Height, Ethnicity, Siblings, Age, Net Worth

Maria Amparo Ventura, professionally known as Amy Austria, is a highly acclaimed Filipino actress celebrated for her powerful dramatic performances and often called the “Meryl Streep of the Philippines.”

With a career spanning over four decades, she has won nearly every major acting award in the country multiple times, including three FAMAS Best Actress trophies and the Gawad Urian Best Actress on five occasions.

Profile

• Full Name: Maria Amparo Austria Ventura
• Stage Name: Amy Austria
• Born: 13, December 1961
• Age: 64 years old
• Birthplace: Tondo, Manila, Philippines
• Nationality: Filipino
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 1.62 m
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Jay Ilagan (m. 1983–1992), Duke Ventura (m. 1999)
• Children: Alexandra “Sandy” Ilagan
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $8 million

Early Life and Education

Maria Amparo Austria was born on December 13, 1961, in the tough streets of Tondo, Manila. Raised in a large, working-class family, she helped support her siblings by selling cigarettes and newspapers as a child.

She studied at Rafael Palma Elementary School and later attended the University of Santo Tomas for a degree in Business Administration, though she left to pursue acting full-time. She is of pure Filipino descent and raised Roman Catholic.

Career

Amy Austria began her film career in 1977 with bit roles in Viva and Regal productions before breaking through in the early 1980s with dramatic performances in films like Brutal (1980), which earned her the FAMAS Best Actress award at age 19.

She quickly became one of the most awarded actresses of her generation, winning consecutive Gawad Urian Best Actress honors for Jaguar (1980), Brutal (1980), and Hinugot sa Langit (1985).

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she starred in critically acclaimed dramas such as Atsay (1978), Gabi ng Lagim Ngayon (1980), Atsay Killer (1983), and the landmark AIDS drama Hinugot sa Langit.

After the death of her first husband Jay Ilagan in 1992, she took a long hiatus and returned in the late 1990s with mature, powerful roles in films like Babae (1997), Muro Ami (1999), and Anak (2000).

She later transitioned to television, earning praise for supporting roles in series such as Pangako Sa ‘Yo (2000), Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin (2005), and The Half Sisters (2015). In recent years she has appeared in acclaimed independent films and teleseryes, including guest appearances in Ang Probinsyano and supporting roles in GMA dramas.

Amy Austria’s legacy as one of the greatest dramatic actresses in Philippine cinema is unquestioned. She has received lifetime achievement awards from FAMAS, Gawad Urian, and the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

Even in her 60s, she continues to take on meaningful roles and is widely admired for her humility and dedication to craft.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @amyaustria_ventura
• Facebook Handle: Amy Austria Ventura

Personal Life

Amy Austria married actor Jay Ilagan in 1983; they adopted a daughter, Alexandra “Sandy” Ilagan, before Jay’s tragic death in a motorcycle accident in 1992. After seven years of mourning, she married businessman Duke Ventura in 1999 in a quiet civil ceremony.

The couple has no children together but remains happily married and based in Quezon City. Known for her private nature, Amy rarely speaks about her personal life but is deeply devoted to her family and faith.

Filmography

• Atsay (1978)
• Brutal (1980)
• Jaguar (1980)
• Hinugot sa Langit (1985)
• Atsay Killer (1983)
• Babae (1997)
• Muro Ami (1999)
• Anak (2000)
• Magnifico (2003)
• Dubai (2005)
• In My Life (2009)
• The Mistress (2012)

Net Worth

Amy Austria has an estimated net worth of $8 million, accumulated through decades of award-winning film and television work, residuals from classic movies, real-estate investments in Metro Manila, and income from occasional endorsements.