Iza Calzado

Iza Calzado is a Filipina Hollywood actress, commercial model, and TV host who gained attention in show business in May 2002.

She has been compared to veteran actresses Hilda Koronel, Cherry Pie Picache in terms of acting. Her biggest breaks in Philippine showbiz include teaming with Argentine actor Segundo Cernadas in GMA Network's Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man and taking the role as Amihan in Encantadia.

She recently starred on an American remake for the Philippine film Sigaw.

Biography
Born as Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado, she was named in part after the legendary dancer, Isadora Duncan. Her father is choreographer and TV director Lito Calzado and her mother was the late Irish-Spanish-Filipina, Mary Ann Ussher. Iza's brother, Dash, is a member of Legit Misfitz, a Pinoy rap group.

In the late 1990s, she finished her high school in Miriam College and then completed her undergraduate education in the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Fine Arts.



Acting career
Before entering show business, she worked as a dubber. Iza started out as a guest teen star in the now defunct show, Click, which led to further roles. Her inclusion in the drama Kung Mawawala ka made everyone notice her acting skills thus making GMA decide that she should be given lead roles. Iza won her first heroine role on the soap opera Te Amo (I Love You) with the Argentine actor Segundo Cernadas.

Amihan the Queen of goddesses in Encantadia was the hit character she marked in 2005 for the fantasy-driven market. In that tele-fantasy she worked with other Kapuso stars Diana Zubiri, Jennylyn Mercado, Yasmien Kurdi, Mark Herras, Karylle, Dingdong Dantes. She also worked with Cogie Domingo and Sunshine Dizon in Kung Mawawala Ka.

The success of her film partnership with Dingdong Dantes was realized in Moments of Love.

When it comes to preferred roles, Iza looks for offbeat ones such as a madwoman or a drug addict. In her first two movies she played a drug user (Blackout) and a prostitute (Mona in Singapore).

For local counterpart she’s looking forward to working again with Piolo Pascual. They played an estranged couple in Milan.

Calzado will be the leading lady of F4 member Ken Zhu in the movie to be filmed in Philippines, "Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan" of Ignite Media Films, with director, Adolf Alix. Iza just finished Impostora and returned to the country on September 23, 2008.[2]

On January 18, 2008, Iza Calzado won the Model Star Award from the Korea Asia Model Award Festival. Freddie Aguilar received the Asia Star Award. Model Robby Mananquil got the Male Model Star Award.

other featured ladies

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Elaine Kay Moll		Jillean Camille Orbina		Sherlyn Gonzales		Annalie Forbes