Iza Calzado

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.

Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado (born August 12, 1982) is a Filipino actress and television presenter.

Known for her roles in blockbusters and independent films, particularly drama, psychological thriller and horror, she has received a selection of 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.

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 (1990).

She has an elder brother, Dash Calzado, who is a member of Legit Misfitz, a 1990s Pinoy rap group.

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.

After several dubbing stints, Calzado made a guest appearance in the drama series Click.

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 (2002) and landed her first leading role in the romantic drama Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man (2004).

She gained early recognitions for her roles in Milan, Sabel and Sigaw, winning the Gawad Urian for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.

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.

Calzado made her breakthrough by playing one of the leads in the fantasy action Encantadia (2005).

The year 2005 marked a high point in Calzado's career.

She took hosting stints through the morning show 3R (Respect, Relax, Respond) 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.

She went on to star in several commercially successful films, including Moments of Love (2006), Ouija (2007), Starting Over Again (2014) and Etiquette for Mistresses (2015).

In 2006, Calzado appeared in three film productions.

She played Divina Buenacer in Mark 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.

Her starring roles in Impostora (2007), All About Eve (2009), Beauty Queen (2010), Hawak Kamay (2014), A Love to Last (2017) and Ang sa Iyo Ay Akin (2020) established her as a leading actress in soap operas.

She also received widespread critical acclaim for her performances in Dukot (2009), Mga Mumunting Lihim (2012), Haunted Mansion (2015), Bliss (2017) and Culion (2019).

Calzado served as one of the jury at the 4th Hanoi International Film Festival and a member of the committee at the Cinemanila International Film Festival in 2010.

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.