This is an excerpt from the June 2026 Special Issue. Subscribe to MEGA Digital All-Access to read the full story.
Acting is a profession, art, and passion. It’s more than just reading lines off a script, but a performance that not only embodies a character but also transcends the screen. The work of an actor, after all, isn’t limited to what they do on camera. It’s a mantra Iza Calzado lives by and one she actively practices both on and off the set.
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With over two decades of experience under her belt, the award-winning actress has come to understand that acting isn’t just pretending, but an embodiment of someone’s story that deserves to be told. It’s a mindset that not only has improved her craft, but also applauded by her peers and critics. Her body of work has been recognized by some of the country’s most prestigious award-giving institutions including Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards, Gawad Urian, Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Television, and the Metro Manila Film Festival.
With the storied career that Calzado has, she does not just look at one moment she considers as the pinnacle of her journey so far. Instead, she sees her career as a collection of experiences that gradually shaped the artist and person she has become. That journey for Calzado begins with her breakthrough role as Amihan in Encantadia. “It taught me that a platform is a responsibility, not just a spotlight. To this day, it is the role that helps guide me—in navigating relationships, battles, and in this season in my life where I find myself stepping into leadership roles,” she shares.
However, Calzado credits the one role that had the biggest impact on her was when she became a mother with the birth of her daughter, Deia Amihan, in January 2023. “Motherhood didn’t pause my artistry, it purified it,” she says.
Calzado’s continued growth and evolution isn’t just limited to her own acting, but in multiple aspects of her life. Such is the case with how she views the impact of her work. “Performance wants applause. Artistry wants accountability,” she states. “I lived years thinking success was self-serving, until it hollowed me out. I had to admit: I felt like I wasn’t using my platform properly— it was all self-serving. I realised my success means nothing if I don’t use it to create a better community around myself, to create a better world.”
As one of the most gifted actresses of her generation, Calzado has brought to life countless women who have gone on to inspire and empower many over the years. Yet meaningful representation, she believes, extends beyond the screen as it also means changing how women are seen and treated in the industry. “I see myself as a protector of my peers,” she declares about her work as president of AKTOR. “That means fighting for the Eddie Garcia Bill, for safe hours, for mental health care. I said it plainly: Mental health struggles are not always visible. We cannot wait for a crisis before taking action.”
At this stage in her career, Calzado doesn’t need to prove herself to anyone. Her legacy is already established, but Calzado’s work is far from done. Keenly aware of how art and entertainment can impact the nation, she is both intentional in her own work and supportive of Filipina actresses’ success. “I celebrate when artists such as Dolly de Leon, Liza Soberano, Ruby Ruiz, and others break through and are recognized abroad, because representation is not about me, it’s about the country. My purpose is nation-building through story.”
Ultimately, Iza Calzado is driven by a deeper sense of purpose that her work means something of value to herself and society. “Family taught me love. God taught me surrender. Country gives me the reason. I do my best to make sure a project serves all three. Excellence without integrity is just noise, and I want my work, like my life, to be a quiet, steady light.”
Photographed by JERICK SANCHEZ. Creative Direction by PATRICK TY. Art Direction by CLARE MAGNO and BRIE VENTURA. Beauty Direction by AGOO AZCUNA-BENGZON assisted by MARA GO. Sittings Editor PEEWEE REYES-ISIDRO and TREISHA ROVERO. Produced by THESSMAR LECTURA. Image retouching by JONES PALTENG and TROY NONATO. Hair by MATT LEDESMA assisted by GABRIEL GARCIA. Makeup by MIKE LARIOSA. Styled by KAT CRUZ-VILLANUEVA. Production Design by ARJ MADARANG of JAGGER STUDIOS. Photography Assistants KARL RIMANDO, BUDDY REYES, DAVE ORPILLA, and RYAN ALBANO
Frequently Asked Questions
Iza Calzado is an award-winning Filipino actress with over two decades of experience whose work has been recognized by FAMAS, Gawad Urian, the PMPC Star Awards for Television, and the Metro Manila Film Festival. She is also the president of AKTOR, the actors’ welfare organization.
AKTOR is a Philippine organization representing the welfare of actors in the entertainment industry. As president, Iza Calzado has advocated for the Eddie Garcia Bill, safer working hours on set, and mental health care for performers, framing industry reform as inseparable from her artistic identity.
The Eddie Garcia Bill is Philippine legislation aimed at strengthening occupational safety regulations on film and television sets, named after the actor who died following an on-set accident in 2019. Iza Calzado, as AKTOR president, has publicly campaigned for its passage as part of broader labor protections for performers.
Calzado has cited her breakthrough role as Amihan in the fantasy series Encantadia as a formative anchor for her understanding of platform and responsibility. She also considers becoming a mother to her daughter Deia Amihan, born in January 2023, the role with the deepest impact on her artistry.
Calzado frames storytelling as a vehicle for national identity and collective progress. She has stated that her purpose is nation-building through story, citing the international recognition of Filipina actresses such as Dolly de Leon, Liza Soberano, and Ruby Ruiz as evidence of representation that extends beyond individual achievement.
