Iza Calzado (birth name Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado) is a Filipina actress, commercial model, and TV host who gained big attention in show business in May 2002. She's been compared to veteran actresses Hilda Koronel, Cherry Pie Picache and Loren Legarda in terms of acting.Her biggest breaks in Philippine showbiz include teaming-up with Argentine actor Segundo Cernadas in GMA Network's Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man and taking the role as Amihan in Encantadia.
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. Iza won her first ever heroine role through the soap opera Te Amo with the Argentinean 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-fantasya she worked with other Kapuso stars like Diana Zubiri, Jennylyn Mercado, Yasmien Kurdi, Mark Herras, Karylle, Dingdong Dantes and with Cogie Domingo and Sunshine Dizon in Kung Mawawala Ka. The success of her film partnership with Dingdong Dantes was realized in Atlantika.
When it comes to dream roles Iza wants the offbeat ones just like a madwoman or drug dependent. Incidentally on her first two movies this year, Blackout with Robin Padilla who worked later in Joaquin Bordado, she would be drug dependent and "Mona" as a prostitute in Singapore.
For local counterpart she’s looking forward to working again with Piolo Pascual. They played an estrangeg couple in the flick Milan. Aside from Piolo she’d be thrilled to have a movie or TV project with Jericho Rosales, Dennis Trillo, Jay Manalo, and Victor Neri as she really marvels at their acting ability. But of course, Richard Gomez and Aga Muhlach would definitely be part of her A-list.
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 will be back to the country on September 23.
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.