With a career spanning five decades, she has already appeared in 100 motion pictures[2] and is cited by critics as one of the greatest Filipino actresses in Philippine cinema.

She is also one of the Grandslam actresses in Philippine Cinema together with Vilma Santos, Elizabeth Oropesa, Nora Aunor and Sharon Cuneta.

Tessa Ramirez in the popular soap opera Dahil May Isang Ikaw which won her more accolades in the New York Television Awards for Best Telenovela.

In 2011, she starred in the action-drama television series Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, where she played a villain as Alondra Sebastiano.

In 2012, Tolentino did the soap opera Pahiram ng Sandali with GMA-7 with actor Dingdong Dantes, Christopher de Leon and Max Collins.

After Asintado, Tolentino played the villainous and authoritarian bureaucrat-first lady turned warlord Lily Ann Cortez-Hidalgo on ABS-CBN's FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, topbilled by Coco Martin and reunited again with Martin in FPJ's Batang Quiapo as the anti-heroic syndicate leader Amanda Salonga.

[12] In 2006, S Magazine also included her in their list of "Philippine Cinema’s 15 Best Actresses of All Time" voted by film directors, scriptwriters and journalists.

[13] In a special episode of QTV's Ang Pinaka hosted by Pia Guanio, her dialogue with Alice Dixson in the 1988 film Nagbabagang Luha was included in their list of "20 Most Unforgettable Filipino Movie Quotes of All Time.

"[14] Critic Elvin Luciano praised her portrayal in the 2010 film Sa 'Yo Lamang saying: "LT has mastered her craft, and at the same time, effectively supports her co-stars.

"[15] Abigail Mendoza of Philippine Entertainment Portal praised her performance in the film Burgos (2013) saying: "Tolentino effectively evokes empathy with her subtle but compelling portrayal of Edita Burgos", further adding: "The actress shines in bringing life to the subdued but resilient heroine of the biopic, making her audience feel that a mother’s love is indeed so powerful.

According to AGB Neilsen, the series attained 33.6% TV ratings in Mega Manila,[22] earned a nomination at the International Emmy Awards in the Best Telenovela category and premiered in more than ten countries globally including Colombia, becoming the second Filipino content to air in Latin America.