LOOKING at Iza Calzado nowadays, one can readily see a woman of style and substance. The actress is in control of herself, her emotions and her decisions. Her demeanor exudes joy, fulfilment and happiness, without the unnecessary baggage that commonly hang on the shoulders of many personalities in the entertainment business.
Our very first long conversation happened on the island of Boracay a decade or so ago. Calzado and I were partying outside Juice Bar with some friends, throwing all caution to the wind that hot summer night. We warmed up to each other right away, and had laughs between drinks, breaking into dance movements every now and then when we liked the music being played.
I remember her telling me, “This industry is so unpredictable, we don’t know who makes it and who doesn’t. Nobody can say who’ll stay and who’ll give up. So I just go with the flow.”
A decade or so later Calzado has become an actor of note. She plays Jane Ciego, a star who is in the throes of major torpor in Bliss, the latest undertaking of acclaimed filmmaker Jerrold Tarog, his follow-up movie to the period box-office hit and critically acclaimed Heneral Luna.
Calzado’s character in the film has been in a dizzying spiral of routines, and to break the monotony, she’s persuaded to produce a movie that will hopefully herald her as an actress. The similarities between the real Calzado and the role she is playing end in the fact that the 34-year-old actress has rarely been given a role as challenging as the one she plays in Bliss. Unlike Jane Ciego, Calzado is widely acknowledged as one of the industry’s more competent actors.
She has already won an Urian Best Supporting Actress plum courtesy of her solid turn as the wandering spirit of a murdered wife in Yam Laranas’s Sigaw. She was also memorable as the woman whose core has been broken in Olivia Lamasan’s Milan.
“I’ve been boxed in serious roles, the kind souls, the woman who swallows all her sacrifices,” shared Calzado. “I’m still a good soul in this new film, but its theme is far from the projects I usually do. I also wanted to kind of break the Mama Mary mold, and I’m glad I did.”
We learned from the filmmaker that every major cast in his latest film went through an audition process. “Before Iza finally bagged the role, there were many actresses who willingly auditioned, and some of them did really, really well. Pero si Iza ’yung may special quality na karga, plus the chemistry she has with Ian Veneracion and TJ Trinidad, those were the deciding factors.”
Calzado didn’t mind having to audition for the part. “Maganda kasi ’yung material. I don’t mind auditioning for a role I really like.”
The film had its world premiere at the 2017 Osaka Asian Film Festival in Japan in March where Hong Kong’s Mad World was honored with the Best Film award and Calzado bagged the Yakushi Pearl Special Performance Award. She received a pearl accessory from Yakushi Shinju, the sponsor for this special category.
A few weeks ago the film stirred a controversy when it was given by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board an X rating on its first review, but after an appeal, it was reclassified with an R-18 (Without Cuts). Tarog explained: “Given naman na meron talagang grupo sa Philippines na conservative, pero isang grupo lang sila. Marami rin grupo sa Pilipinas na liberal. Ang nangyari, na-offend pa ’yung grupo na liberal na parang tinatanggalan sila ng karapatan na mapanood ’yung pelikula.”
Bliss is a hybrid of genres that does contain some delicate scenes involving Calzado and some members of the cast, but nothing really graphic or vulgar. The actress, however, admitted she had initial reservations about these because of her existing endorsement deals. “There were [cinematic] tricks we did to explain to the brand executives, which we cannot divulge to the moviegoing public right now.” There is no denying Bliss offered Calzado one of her meatiest roles in years. “What people see onscreen is different from how I conduct myself in real life. Have I done a really crazy thing in my private life? Wala pa naman. All things considered, it’s a role. I’m an actress. It’s part of my job.”
Calzado feels lucky to have a supportive boyfriend, Manila-based British businessman Ben Wintle.
“He knows it’s work. I’m glad I have a man in my life who understands the things that I have to do as part of my job as an actor.”
It also helps immeasurably she’s working with actors like Ian Veneracion and TJ Trinidad, both of whom she is comfortable with. “Ian, TJ and I certainly work very well together. I’d like to think we’re all generous, giving actors. TJ and Ian are definitely two of my favorite coactors.”
Calzado has come a long way from her beginnings as an actor. She still takes little steps before making big decisions. She finds satisfaction in simplicity, and she knows in her heart what truly matters in life. “I still go with the flow.”
Produced by TBA, Bliss opens in cinemas on May 10.