Iza Calzado
Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado is a Filipino actress. Known for her roles in blockbusters and independent films, particularly drama, psychological thriller and horror, she has received numerous accolades, including an Osaka Asian Film Festival Award, an Asian Television Award, a Gawad Urian, a Luna Award and three Metro Manila Film Festival Awards, in addition to nominations for five FAMAS Awards. Her films have earned ₱1.96 billion, making her one of the highest-grossing Filipino box office stars this century.
Calzado, daughter of choreographer and actor Lito Calzado, initially played bit roles in two films as a child actress, including Lino Brocka's Kung Tapos Na Ang Kailanman. She took a long break from the show business and returned in the early 2000s through stints in commercials. She played a supporting role in the soap opera Kung Mawawala Ka and landed her first leading role in the romantic drama Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man. She gained early recognitions for her roles in Milan, Sabel and Sigaw, winning the Gawad Urian for Best Supporting Actress for the latter. Calzado made her breakthrough by playing one of the leads in the fantasy action Encantadia.
She went on to star in several commercially successful films, including Moments of Love, Ouija, Starting Over Again and Etiquette for Mistresses. Her starring roles in Impostora, All About Eve, Beauty Queen, Hawak Kamay, A Love to Last and Ang sa Iyo Ay Akin established her as a leading actress in soap operas. She also received widespread critical acclaim for her performances in Dukot, Mga Mumunting Lihim, Haunted Mansion, Bliss and Culion. Calzado served as one of the jury at the 4th Hanoi International Film Festival in Vietnam and a member of the committee at the Cinemanila International Film Festival in 2010.
Early life
Born Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado, she was named after the American dancer Isadora Duncan. Her father was Lito Calzado, a choreographer and TV director. Her mother was Maria Antonia Ussher. She has an elder brother, Dash Calzado, who is a member of Legit Misfitz, a 1990s Pinoy rap group. Calzado's mother died from suicide in 2001 after having suffered from bipolar disorder.Calzado finished elementary at School of the Holy Spirit and high school at Miriam College. She went on to take her undergraduate degree in fine arts at the University of Santo Tomas.
Career
1999–2005: ''Early roles and breakthrough''
After several dubbing stints, Calzado made a guest appearance in the drama series Click. In 2002, she played a supporting role in her first soap opera Kung Mawawala Ka. Her performance landed Calzado her first lead role in the romantic drama Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man opposite Argentine actor Segundo Cernadas. She also appeared in four films in 2004. She made her first film appearance in Olivia Lamasan's romantic drama Milan. She next played supporting roles in the psychological drama Sabel and the romantic comedy Annie B. Her final role of the year was in the supernatural horror film Sigaw. Her performance was lauded by the critics, earning Calzado her first Gawad Urian Award for Beat Supporting Actress, in addition to a nomination at the Metro Manila Film Festival in the same category. The year 2005 marked a high point in Calzado's career. She took hosting stints through the morning show 3R with Chynna Ortaleza and the public affairs show At Your Service: Star Power where she served as the main host. The same year, she starred in her breakthrough role Amihan in the fantasy drama Encantadia. The series was a success, garnering an all-time high rating of 51.7%, becoming GMA Network's third highest-rating TV show of all time. For her performance, Calzado was named Best Actress at the USTv Student's Choice Awards. Following its success, Calzado reprised her role as Amihan in Etheria: Ang Ikalimang Kaharian ng Encantadia for the second installment of the Encantadia franchise. She also appeared in three films that year. She played supporting roles in the comedies Pinoy/Blonde and Ispiritista: Itay, May Moomoo. For her final film of the year, Calzado reprised her role as Amihan in the fantasy Mulawin: The Movie, an entry for the 31st Metro Manila Film Festival.2006–2008: ''Moments of Love, Impostora, Desperadas and One True Love''
In 2006, Calzado appeared in three film productions. She played Divina Buenacer in Mark A. Reyes' romantic drama Moments of Love opposite Dingdong Dantes. A surprise hit at the box office, it was followed up by another romantic drama Eternity with Dantes which also stars Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras. She next appeared as a vampire-like creature disguised as a nanny in the eighth installment of the horror Shake, Rattle and Roll 8. The film earned ₱57 million at the box-office throughout its run at the Metro Manila Film Festival, becoming the third highest-grossing film of the festival. That year, Calzado also starred in two television projects. For the last time, Calzado reprised her role as Amihan in Encantadia: Pag-Ibig Hanggang Wakas, the third installment of the franchise. The series was still a success, becoming the third most watched program with an average rating of 32.2%, based on Mega Manila TV household between January and February 2006. She next played a supporting role in the fantasy series Atlantika.In 2007, Calzado made appearances in the anthology Magpakailanman. She starred alongside Sunshine Dizon in Maryo J. de los Reyes' drama Impostora. The series was well received by the audience, garnering 37.6% rating in its finale based on AGB Neilsen's overnight ratings among Mega Manila households, beating Marian Rivera's Marimar. The same year, Calzado also had five film releases. She played a maternal role in the psychological thriller Blackout. She next played the lead in the indie film Mona: Singapore Escort. Calzado also starred in the supernatural horror Ouija with Judy Ann Santos, Jolina Magdangal and Rhian Ramos. The film was a success at the box office, grossing ₱60 million within its first week. Calzado had two more major releases by the end of the year. She starred in the romantic drama Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan with Taiwanese actor Ken Chu. Her final film appearance was in the comedy Desperadas. The film performed moderately at the box-office with ₱35.5 million earnings, becoming the fourth highest-grossing entry at the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Calzado appeared in four television projects in 2008. She played a supporting role as Robin Padilla's leading lady in the action fantasy Joaquin Bordado. For her portrayal, Calzado became a semi-finalist in consideration for a nomination at the International Emmy Awards. She next top billed the suspense thriller series E.S.P. where she played as an investigative journalist. She also starred in a number of episodes in the anthology Obra and made a guest appearance in the series LaLola. That year, Calzado also appeared in four films. She starred alongside Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes in the romance mystery One True Love. She next played a supporting role in the horror comedy Scaregivers. She reprised her role as Stephanie in the sequel Desperadas 2. The film performed moderately at the box-office throughout its run at the Metro Manila Film Festival, earning over ₱40 million. She also reprised her role as the victimized wife in the supernatural horror The Echo, an American remake of Yam Laranas' Sigaw.
2009–2011: ''All About Eve, Dukot and hosting stints''
The following year, Calzado appeared in more than ten projects in television and film. After appearing in the anthologies SRO Cinemaserye and Dear Friend, she reunited with Sunshine Dizon in the drama All About Eve. According to AGB Neilsen, the series garnered 31.8% ratings, becoming the No. 1 most watched show on television occasionally throughout its run. She next topbilled the afternoon drama Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit with Wendell Ramos. She then appeared as one of the councils in the reality talent competition Starstruck V. Calzado made a cameo appearance in the horror drama Sundo and next played a supporting role in the drama comedy Fuschia. Calzado also starred in the political thriller Bente with Richard Gomez and Snooky Serna. She next played supporting roles in the comedy Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie and fantasy Ang Panday. Her final film project of that year was in the political drama Dukot with Allen Dizon. Calzado's performance was acclaimed by the critics, earning her Best Actress nominations at the FAMAS, Gawad Urian and Star Awards for Movies, in addition to winning Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at the Golden Screen Awards.In 2010, Calzado ventured into more hosting gigs. She was the main host in the cooking show Healthy Cravings, co-hosted the musical variety show Party Pilipinas and the lifestyle show The Sweet Life. After playing Teresa in the anthology Claudine, she played Maria Makiling in the drama fantasy Panday Kids and starred in Joel Lamangan's drama Beauty Queen. The series was a success, reigning over Mega Manila in TV ratings. That year, Calzado also starred in three films. She was cast as one of the leads in Jose Javier Reyes' Working Girls. She next played the Black Lady in Topel Lee's supernatural horror White House alongside Gabby Concepcion, Lovi Poe and Maricar Reyes. Calzado' s final film appearance in 2010 was a supporting in the drama HIV: Si Heidi, Si Ivy at Si V which stars Jake Cuenca. The Department of Health invested in the film to help "boost the agency’s anti-HIV/AIDS campaign." In 2011, Calzado replaced Regine Velasquez as the lead in the latter part of the romantic comedy I Heart You, Pare!, which also stars Dingdong Dantes. The series was a success, receiving an average of 22.9% ratings in Mega Manila for its finale episode. She next starred opposite Cesar Montano in her first situational comedy Andres de Saya. Calzado's last projects with GMA Network were hosting stints in Eat Bulaga! and Showbiz Exclusives.