iGMA: Iza Calzado shares insights on her career

With ‘Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit’ on its fifth week, madaming pangyayari ang nasaksihan ng mga manonood sa buhay ni Clarissa played by Iza Calzado. And for Ms Iza, ang role niya rito ay panibagong hamon muli sa kanyang kakayahan bilang aktres.

"Excited talaga akong gawin ito at, siyempre isang malaking pressure at karangalan na isang pelikula ni Ms. Maricel Soriano ang rine-remake ko. This keeps evolving and it is a big challenge for me. This is something new," Iza shared.

'Di ba? [dati] laging nakahon ‘yung character ko sa mga karamihan ng mga soap opera na kasama ako, 'yung laging api. Parang ako kasi gusto kong lumaban, kung ako lang 'di ba? Pero, at least, this time napapaglaruan ko ang character ko. Very liberating from what was the norm for me - on television, at least," she added.

That is why masayang-masaya si Iza sa role niya sa Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit. "I'm sure na-appreciate ng mga manood to see me in that light – portraying a character like that," she stated.

"Parang nung ginampanan ko ‘yung (SRO Cinemaserye presents) 'Rowena Joy', dahil iba siya sa mga usual na ginagawa ko, mas malakas 'yung impact. I think that is one of the secrets to keeping the audience interested," pagpapatuloy niya.

When we commented that it seems that the Kapuso Network usually has her in mind whenever they need an actress na kailangan gumanap ng unusual role, Iza's reaction was a simple, "Sana ganun talaga – kakaiba ba talaga? Kakaiba talaga siguro ako."

Pero as we have seen in Iza's career as an actress, hindi lang basta-basta siya tumatanggap ng mga roles. And when the opportunity to do a Sine Novela came along, she found that Clarissa fits what she wants to do next.

"Sobra kong gusto nung material, sabi ko, 'Wow, sama ng ugali nito'. But I think for the remake, which we are doing now, we are changing 'yung ibang aspeto ng istorya – siyempre mas ija-justify natin kung bakit siya naging ganito," she related . "Pero, of course, I'm sure the scenes and famous lines that you have expected, like what you have seen, have still been retained."

Nakadagdag din sa pagpapahalaga ni Iza sa kanyang role ang fact na sinadya ng GMA na gawing espesyal ang Dramarama block with her show being featured, back-to-back with Tinik Sa Dibdib.

"Gusto ko ‘yung concept na parehong strong women, and good material back-to-back na magkasabay. Each show should lift up each other, kumbaga nagtutulungan sa ratings," she commented.

Of course hindi din naman lingid sa showbiz circles na may kasalukuyang nagpapaningning sa mga mata ng dalaga. Pero Iza stilll chooses to keep her relationship with her non-showbiz boyfriend as confidential as possible.

"He's very private and he has to slowly ease into that whole attention thing. We have to understand that – kasi iba-iba naman ang tao," she declared. "Ako kasi kumportable na dito, pero siyempre hindi naman lahat. Basta gusto ko everybody happy."

As for any immediate plans be they career-wise or personal – it is not surprising na marami pang balak si Iza gawin.

Hindi naman siya naging specific, pero she just hinted that we still be expecting a lot from this Kapuso beauty. "Ang dami pang things na nag-aantay before I take anything to the next level, I have to maximize that."

Magkaroon pa ng pagkakataon alamin ang mga saloobin at sekreto ni Iza. Sumali sa Live Chat niya on October 28, 2009 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm (Philippine Time). For more details just keep logged on sa iGMA (http://www.igma.tv/livechat/join). - Erick Mataverde, iGMA