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.

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?

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.