She may have been in the industry for over two decades already, yet it was only in January 2012 when Iza Calzado officially became a Kapamilya after signing an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. Since then, she went on to become one of the most sought-after TV personalities of the media company.
And now that she’s set to astound us anew with her portrayal of the first Darna in the highly anticipated Mars Ravelo’s Darna, let us revisit her remarkable journey via this Kapamilya Spotlight feature!
On that same year that she began her journey in ABS-CBN, Iza immediately landed her first acting project as a Kapamilya through Maalaala Mo Kaya, wherein she got to work with Zanjoe Marudo and Rica Peralejo. It was succeeded by her first teleserye stint Kahit Puso’y Masugatan, which she starred alongside Jake Cuenca, Andi Eigenmann, and Gabby Concepcion.
In 2013, she showed off her comedic facet through her guest appearance in Toda Max as Ka Iza. The following year, she was tapped to become the host of the reality show The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition: Doubles, which was something close to her heart as she used to deal with weight struggles and obesity issues in her younger years. It was also in 2014 when she took part in the series Hawak Kamay as the fierce yet loving lawyer Bianca.
Just in case you forgot or missed it, the award-winning seasoned actress also played a significant role in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano as Colonel Olivia Buenaventura, an intel specialist and psychologist who assessed Coco Martin’s character Cardo Dalisay when he entered the police force in its early episodes.
Iza made a daring return in MMK in 2017 in the “Take Me Home” episode as she played Hazel, a sexually abused woman who eventually got pregnant. She was also able to display her kontrabida facet in the primetime series A Love To Last as she portrayed Grace, the ex-wife of Ian Veneracion’s character Anton.
She appeared in another teleserye the following year, Ngayon At Kailanman, wherein she took on the role of Rebecca Marquez-Young, the estranged mother of Julia Barretto’s character Eva Mapendo.
Despite being infected by the COVID-19 virus at its onset in the country in 2020 that put her life at risk, it didn’t stop the actress from showing an astounding performance in the highly successful afternoon soap opera Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin as one of the bida-kontrabidas, Ellice Ceñidoza-Villarosa.
Just last year, she succeeded in touching our hearts with her portrayal of a schizophrenic mother named Caridad in the “Medalya” episode of MMK, which she top-billed alongside Heaven Peralejo and Shamaine Buencamino.
And now, we’re looking forward to see Iza take on the very important role of the first Darna in Mars Ravelo’s Darna that is set to premiere this coming August 15, Monday, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z and iWantTFC.