[5][7] Cuntapay was among the 40 actors trained in the first batch of acting workshops conducted by Lori Reyes and Peque Gallaga for LVN Pictures.

[5] In 1991, Cuntapay played the spooky nanny of Kris Aquino's character in Shake Rattle & Roll 3,[8] and in the following year she was cast to play a character identified as an "aswang" —a role for which she would later be typecast in many subsequent movie appearances,[7] and these earned her the title "Queen of Philippine Horror Movies."

[9]In 2009, Cuntapay appeared as an albularyo in the ABS-CBN afternoon TV series Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Bud Brothers.

[10] She appeared as Rosanna, a role which she shared with Maricar Reyes, in the Midnight DJ episode named "Kwentas ng Mangkukulam".

Cuntapay was also cast as Miley Cyrus in Lokomoko High's spoof of the Party in the USA music video.

The following year, she played Upeng in the mini-series Sa Ngalan ng Ina, the first offering of TV5's TV5 Miniserye series in the latter part of 2011.