In her almost three decades in the local entertainments scene, Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado, or simply known by her screen name Iza Calzado, has not only exhibited her brilliance and versatility as one of the seasoned actresses in the country, but also her unmistakable influence as a staunch champion of women empowerment. 

She began her showbiz career in 1992 at a very young age, thanks to her late father Lito Calzado who was a choreographer and a TV director. It was in 2005 when she started to make a name for herself through her remarkable stint as one of the lead actresses in a fantasy series of a rival network.

Seven years after, Iza surprised everyone with her transfer to the ABS-CBN in 2012 and had her first-ever appearance as a Kapamilya in ASAP. She then starred in a number of teleseryes through her eight years in the network, with the melodrama Kahit Puso’y Masugatan as her first and Ngayon At Kailanman as the latest. She is set to appear in the upcoming drama Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin.

The 37-year-old actress further captivated us with her charisma and acting prowess in her notable portrayals in Star Cinema flicks, namely, “Etiquette For Mistresses” (2015), “Maria Leonora Theresa” (2014), and “Starting Over Again” (2014), which brought her the “Film Actress of the Year” accolade from the 46th Guillermo Mendoza Box-Office Entertainment Awards.

Aside from shining her star in teleseryes and movies, she’s been also shedding light on body positivity, mental health, and women empowerment as one of the co-founders of the community conversation platform “SHE TALKS ASIA”. She’s been the leading voice in changing the showbiz standards by raising awareness on the importance of physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing through her posts and in advocating self-love and fighting for what we believe in. A positive example of modern woman, indeed!