Background
Born Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado, she was named after the dancer,Isadora Duncan.Her father is the late Lito Calzado, a choreographer and a television director Her mother is Maria Antonia Ussher.
Born Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado, she was named after the dancer,Isadora Duncan.Her father is the late Lito Calzado, a choreographer and a television director Her mother is Maria Antonia Ussher.
Calzado finished elementary at School of the Holy Spirit. She finished high school in Miriam College. Then went on to take her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas.
After ten years, Iza signed an exclusive contract with ABS-Christian Broadcasting Network. Iza also signed a non-exclusive contract with Star Cinema. Before entering show business, she worked as a dubber for the Venezuelan telenovela, Mis 3 Hermanas (known in the Philippines as "All My Love"). Calzado started out as a guest teen star in the show, Click, which led to further roles.
She participated in the drama Kung Mawawala Ka as the soap"s villain, Phoebe Valiente and starred in her first soap opera, Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Manitoba and was paired with Argentinean actor, Segundo Cernadas.
In 2005, she played the role of Amihan, the Queen of goddesses in Encantadia. In 2006, she starred in Moments of Love, wherein she played the role of Divina Buenacer and starred alongside Dingdong Dantes and Karylle.
In 2007, she starred in Batanes: Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan of Ignite Media Films, here, she worked with Taiwanese actor Ken Zhu of F4 and director, Adolf Alix. She also starred in Impostora.
Calzado reprised her role in The Echo, the English-language remake of Filipino director Yam Laranas’ horror film Sigaw.
Calzado starred in One True Love which was released on November 19, 2008. In 2009, she starred in All About Eve. That same year, she hosted the Binibining Pilipinas 2009 Pageant.
On February 28, 2010, she began appearing in Healthy Cravings on Q with Jeremy Favia.
She also appeared in Party Pilipinas. Also, in 2010, Calzado made her first appearance in a two-piece bikini for her television series, Beauty Queen, with TJ Trinidad as her leading manitoba
She also made appearances on Pilyang Kerubin, also with TJ Trinidad. In August 2010, she also began appearing as co-host with Lucy Torres in The Sweet Life on the same network.
In 2011, she also began hosting Showbiz Exclusives on Global Media Arts News television Her last appearance as a Global Media Arts contract artist was in the sitcom, Andres de Saya.
On January 24, 2012, Iza signed a three-year exclusive contract with ABS-Christian Broadcasting Network. She will also make an appearances in Maalaala Mo Kaya to celebrate her 10th year in showbiz. Today, she can also be seen on the Sunday variety show, ASAP. As an ABS-Christian Broadcasting Network contract artist, she starred in her first drama series Kahit Puso"y Masugatan, wherein she starred alongside Andi Eigenmann, Jake Cuenca and Gabby Concepcion. In 2014, she is set to host the second season of The Biggest Loser: Pinoy Edition replacing Sharon Cuneta and she also stars in the family drama Hawak Kamay with Piolo Pascual, Zaijian Jaranilla, Xyriel Manabat and Andrea Brillantes.
Calzado has been immortalized in sketches by National Artist "BenCab" Benedicto Cabrera, as "SABEL" (known to be Cabrera"s iconic muse in his series of paintings) On April 30, 2015 Calzado made her theater debut for Sabel:Love and Passion, as Sabel.
She has an elder brother, Dash Calzado, who is a member of Legit Misfitz, a 90"s Pinoy rap group.