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Iza Calzado is a magnetic force. She radiates with the presence of an old Hollywood movie star, a kind of aura that lets her presence be felt, whether walking into the set of a magazine shoot or on a small screen.
Her charisma and, dare we say it, vibe is so palpable that her origin story of how she stumbled into showbiz makes absolute sense, even if it seemed like kismet.
Although undoubtedly one of the brightest stars today, Iza didn’t have grand plans of fame, let alone being an actress. It was 2001, and she was invited to a go-see for a shampoo commercial. The timing was not the best either, as she had just lost her mother then.
“I lost my mother in 2001, and three days after she was buried, I got a text for a TVC. I didn't even go to VTRs or auditions, hardly. That was going to be my third time. I didn't even want to go. I was hesitating,” she recounts to Cosmopolitan.
Yet her best friend and her then-boyfriend persuaded her to go, with the latter even driving her to the casting agency in Makati City.
“I hardly had makeup on because I didn't know how to do makeup. The only makeup I had was the makeup my mom left with me. I hardly had anything…may salon na malapit, sa salon ako nagpa-blowdry,” Iza shares.
It is easy to guess what happened next—she got cast in the commercial despite the odds, turning the wheels of fate. Although Iza looks like she has always belonged in the limelight, for the actress, it was all by the doing of God’s hand, a divine intervention at a time of trouble and uncertainty.
Iza is wearing a Loewe dress, a Martin Bautista dress as a skirt, Balenciaga pumps, and Tiffany & Co. earrings and bracelet
“I wasn’t doing well in school, so hindi rin ako inspired sa studies ko because I was not in a good place. What I needed was just a way out. Because I felt like I was just so in the dark, I was so lost. And that really is God's gift. God inspired me. He really brought me here. Kaya nga siguro, hanggang ngayon [I tell God], ‘sige na nga – hindi ako kokontra kung ano gusto Mo, kasi dadalhin Mo naman ako kung saan dapat e.’”
That commercial Iza landed was for Pantene—and back then, pre-social media star, an ad of that magnitude could catapult one’s career in showbiz.
“My father [director and choreographer Lito Calzado] was in the business. Siyempre when people found out that I was his daughter, they told him, ‘Pag-artistahin mo kaya?’”
As they say, the rest is history. Iza landed her first lead role in 2004. She starred in Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man, opposite Argentine actor Segundo Carnadas. She would then go from one memorable role to another, with the kindhearted queen and guardian Amihan of Encantadia giving her that breakthrough success.
Despite a slew of critically acclaimed films that followed and a steadily rising career filled with lead characters and memorable supporting roles, the actress admits that her body struggles were part of her career trajectory. As many who have followed her journey know, the actress used to weigh 200 lbs in her younger years, and her yo-yo dieting has caused loose skin and stretch marks—blemishes that were then considered flaws that needed to be concealed in an industry that valued perfection, especially in the mid-2000s.
“[Making it in this industry] was a big fear. Because I was big, I considered myself very different from the other people I would see on set. I had all these body issues. I didn't see myself in the way others saw me. I had such low self-esteem I didn't even know I could act, and that was something I needed to really build the talent for. I remember one time, I felt fat, and I was crying to my then-boyfriend and PA at that time, ‘How will I ever make it in this business?’ But 22 years later, I'm still here. I'd like to think I'm thriving in my own way, and somehow, I think I've done a good amount of work,” she tells Cosmopolitan.
Iza’s long journey with her body and the process she took towards self-acceptance led her to begin her advocacy, #BodyLoveRevolution. The actress launched this with She Talks Asia, the women's empowerment platform she co-founded.
“I just wanted to take control of the narrative at the time. I just wanted to come out with it because I was so sick and tired of literally hiding my flaws,” she shares.
“I was done fearing a photo coming out that was unretouched, that would show my stretch marks, and then having some troll from the Internet use that as a weapon against me and make me feel bad about myself. I also wanted to help others feel seen that they are not the only ones struggling. What I realized was that even the most beautiful people around me were conscious of something or dealing with some kind of body dysmorphia, an eating disorder, or an insecurity. So I thought, ‘let's just share it so that we all feel like we're in this together,’” Iza adds.
Body Love Revolution became a powerful force for women to embrace their inner struggles, the “blemishes” they struggled with—being morena, having their beauty standards shaped by the media—and own them.
Iza is wearing a Joey Samson corset top, a 3MONGKIS skirt, and Gedebe pumps
“If [someone] comments on my page and says, ‘Lawlaw balat mo, you have stretch marks,’ girl joke’s on you, you’re not telling me something I don’t know or that I haven’t said to myself.”
That said, Iza knows that unlearning these things takes time, something that she continues to work on. “It doesn’t bother me the way it used to bother me, and I find it so liberating. And I think because of that, people aren't also as bothered about it as they were before.”
“I still look at [other women] and say things like, ‘I wish I had super amazing tight skin with no stretch marks,’ and I'm still on that journey. But I now look at my body with a sense of wonder and appreciation of what I've been through. The stories that these scars tell are just so rich and powerful that, to me, makes it even more special,” the celebrity reflects.
Iza’s advocacy has inspired her to help others, especially young women, who struggle with their own self-image, sharing that it helps to look at oneself through a more compassionate lens.
“You have to validate their insecurities. You cannot brush it aside and say, ‘Wala lang ‘yan.’ Here them out and say, ‘I hear you. It’s very valid. But what if it’s just you that sees that?’ Challenge them and the narrative they have in their heads,” she says.
Accepting and affirming oneself takes active work, she says. “If your work today is to sit down and journal to say all the things that you are grateful for when it comes to your body, then that is your work today, then tomorrow, ‘How do I apply all the things that I'm grateful for?’ Life has a funny way of pulling you down, making you not believe in yourself. You make mistakes, you fail, you don’t land a job, you get your heart broken. All these things will make you question your worth. It is about rising, rebuilding, recalibrating, and then again reminding yourself of your worth. If you have that power to create your own self-worth, your happiness, and your peace, nobody can take that away from you.”
Iza admits that it’s easier said than done. “There are days I am not [at that level], but I guess the magic is being able to catch myself when I am in that situation, pulling myself up and rising from it.”
At 41, Iza has reached a level—both in a personal and professional sense—where she can be more discerning of what she does and pursuing things that carry meaning for her. Iza has welcomed motherhood through her one-year-old, Deia Amihan, with husband Ben Wintle, which has recalibrated her priorities.
“[There are] a lot of things that I would just casually say yes to before because I had all the time in the world, but I can't now. I will really have to choose. Deia’s bedtime is really quite precious for me, and I only really let go of it if there's work. I feel a little disappointed if I don't make it to bedtime. I was never rushing to go home at a certain time, even for my husband. [But now], a big chunk of my whole world revolves around Deia,” the actress shares.
Being a mom to Deia has also given Iza a lot of thought about how she wants her daughter to grow up. In January, the actress threw a first birthday celebration for her called Dia de la Deia. The girls and young women of Buklod Kalinga, an orphanage in Parañaque City, celebrated their birthdays along with Deia in a day filled with dancing, arts and crafts, gifts, and laughter.
Although Iza initially planned on throwing a joint birthday bash with sister-in-law Bianca King, whose daughter Sadie is the same age as Deia, Iza realized that giving back made the most sense in marking her child’s first year.
She worked with her She Talks Asia co-founder, Eleanor Pinugu, who runs a school called Mano Amiga and was partnered with the Buklod Kalinga home, with the celebration. Her friends Aya Fernandez and Mimi Marquez taught the girls K-Pop moves. Iza also roped in the brands that she works with, including McDonalds and edamama, to provide gifts and surprises for the kids.
Iza is wearing a Dona Lim suit set, a 3MONGKIS sheer top, Zara cami top, Balenciaga pumps, and a Tiffany & Co. necklace
“As an artista, we get so many [brand deals]. So I thought, why don’t I throw a party that kids will actually enjoy? Clearly, Deia will have no recollection of this party. When she’s older and she asks me what we did for her first birthday, I can tell her this is what we did. Giving back is something I’d like to teach Deia, and hopefully she understands the kind of decisions [Ben and I] make. I want her to value a lot of these things and really put emphasis on giving back because she is so blessed,” Iza explains.
The actress adds that she would like Deia to grow up with a sense of compassion and look up to people with a strong sense of happiness and success, be it in career or other aspects of their lives.
“She has to look at people as people, beyond social status. Even the one that does my nails, I look up to her—I find that she's very happy with her life. She's very good at what she does to me and is a happy and successful person. I want her to look up to people who are happy with who they are, and what they've accomplished with their lives. They could just be happy because they have a solid family,” she shares.
In a professional sense, Iza’s mindset has shifted, accepting everything that comes her way while looking for endeavors that provide meaning and purpose.
“Dati pag nawalan ako ng proyekto, gibang-giba ako. Ngayon ‘pag nawawalan ako ng proyekto, kasama na yun sa journey. So even with the losses, I nod, go on to the next,” she says.
So when did Iza know that she made it in her career? According to her, it’s in different moments and different waves. “Noong nag Encantadia kami, yun yung parang, ‘Oh, my God. I made it.’ That was a leap in my career, without even knowing that nearly 20 years later, the show would still be so strong and that the following would be so huge. We're only still feeling the impact it had the last ten years because ‘yung mga batang nanood noon, lumaki na at nagsasabing, ‘Kayo po yung kinalakihan namin.’”
She also names Sigaw, the horror film where she got her first Gawad Urian nod, and its Hollywood remake, The Echo, in which she also stars. Yet one moment in recent history was when she played Leonor, the first Darna in ABS-CBN’s Mars Ravelo’s Darna, a moment that even fans rejoiced because of the actress’ history with the iconic fantasy role.
“When I did Darna, that was like, ‘Oh, my God. I actually finally got to do this role,’ because I have such a rich history with that specific role. But when I finally got to do it, it was the perfect Darna role for me—it wasn't Narda, it was Leonor, and I was always meant to play it.”
“There were a lot of these moments [where I felt I made it]. Sometimes it's little whispers of ‘I made it’ and big screams, like when I first fitted my Darna costume. Na nagpa-tumbling tumbling ako. Tapos yung iyak ko, thinking like, ‘My dad didn't even get to see this.’ Giba ka talaga, but at the same time, you have so much pride and joy na na-accomplish ko yun at 39.”
Yet other things that give her a sense of accomplishment is the idea of creating impact— such as being a Cosmo cover girl at 41 and being part of She Talks Asia. “Maybe it’s not [exactly], ‘I made it,’ but it’s more of creating impact, which is something that especially now that I’m older I really focus more on. It’s not so much the number of likes, followers, or awards, although those are great things,” she shares.
“But I am just as happy to inspire one person to make a difference in one person’s life at a specific moment or for whatever reason. Maybe today I got to high-five somebody, smile at somebody, help somebody cross the street, or do a film that is meaningful to somebody, or have an interview that somebody gets to read or watch that makes them feel good or makes them feel seen. There lies my purpose.”
Iza shares that being part of She Talks Asia alongside other strong women has enriched her and helped her grow into more than just Iza Calzado, the actress and celebrity, where she is its PR Director. “It has really allowed me to have a more purposeful aspect to my career. What I bring to the table is just the years of experience, the wealth of hard-earned wisdom that I have attained. It has been painful to go through a lot of the things that I've gone through,” she shares.
And what else does she bring to the table? “ I guess my charm,” the extrovert quips. “Dealing with people. It's building relationships, strengthening the relationships that already exist.”
Whatever Iza has now in her life—as an actress, an advocate, a mother, and even a wife—lies in her innate belief in the power of women to nurture. “I think there is something about seeing that the woman's strength is to nurture and nourish in whatever shape or form. Whether it’s nurturing a company, a child, pets, mother earth, other humans, it’s a very divine power.”
PRODUCED BY: Ira Nopuente, Andie Estella
ASSISTED BY: Cheska Santiago, Cass Lazaro
PHOTOGRAPHY: Josh Tolentino
ART DIRECTION: Pau Moyano with Bacs Arcebal
FINAL ARTIST: Celina Delos Reyes
SET STYLIST: Paul Jatayna
SITTINGS EDITORS: Thea Alberto-Masakayan
STYLING: Steven Coralde, assisted by Jro Alarcio
MAKEUP: Gery Penaso
HAIRSTYLING: Jan Edrosolan
WORDS BY: Sam Beltran
VIDEOS: Jez Villapando
SOCIAL MEDIA: Aina Lizarondo, assisted by Keonna Atienza
Shot on location at Concept Space MNL
