Iza Calzado on screen and stage

Iza Calzado is a Filipina actress who has had an extensive career in film, television and stage. She is known primarily for her dramatic performances in period drama, psychological thriller, supernatural horror and fantasy. She made her acting debut in the 2002 drama Kung Mawawala Ka. She landed her first leading role in the romantic drama Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man (2004) opposite Argentine actor Segundo Cernadas. She received acclaim for her early roles in films such as Milan (2004), Sabel (2004) and Sigaw (2004), where she won Best Supporting Actress at the Gawad Urian Awards for the latter. She had her breakthrough in the fantasy Encantadia as Amihan. She reprised the same role in the succeeding sequels Etheria, Pag-Ibig Hanggang Wakas and Mulawin: The Movie.

This was followed with starring roles in the period dramas Moments of Love (2006) and Eternity (2006) opposite Dingdong Dantes. She also starred in the supernatural horror Ouija (2007) for which she received a Star Awards for Movies nomination and Shake, Rattle and Roll 8 (2006) where she received a Best Actress nomination at the Metro Manila Film Festival. Following her starring roles in a number of romantic dramas such as Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2007) opposite Taiwanese actor Ken Chu and One True Love (2008) for which she won her first Luna Award, Calzado established herself as a leading actress in soap operas and received acclaim for her portrayal in Atlantika (2006), Impostora (2007), Joaquin Bordado (2008), All About Eve (2009) and Beauty Queen (2010).

Calzado appeared in a string of comedies such as Desperadas (2007), Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie (2009), Fuchsia (2009) and Working Girls (2010), including the sitcom Andres de Saya opposite Cesar Montano. For her performance as an activist in Joel Lamangan's crime drama Dukot (2009), she received Best Actress nominations at the FAMAS, Gawad Urian and Star Awards for Movies. She has since starred in numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as Mga Mumunting Lihim (2012), Starting Over Again (2014), Etiquette for Mistresses (2015), Haunted Mansion (2015), Buhay Habambuhay (2016),Bliss (2017) for which she won an Osaka Asian Film Festival Award for Best Actress, Mystified (2019) for which she won an Asian Television Award, Pandanggo sa Hukay (2019) and Culion (2019).

Calzado continued to star in dramas through soap operas in television including Kahit Puso’y Masugatan (2012), Hawak Kamay (2014), A Love to Last (2017), Ngayon at Kailanman (2018), Ang sa Iyo ay Akin (2020) and Mars Ravelo's Darna (2022). Apart from acting, Calzado has also presented various programs on television such as 3R (Respect, Relax, Respond) (2005), At Your Service: Star Power (2005), Eat Bulaga! (2011) and The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition: Doubles (2014). In 2015, she made her stage debut in the play Sabel: Love and Passion. Her films have collectively earned ₱1.96 billion, making her one of the highest-grossing Filipino box office stars this century.^[1]