Iza Calzado shares 18-year journey to becoming Darna

Audiences of Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The TV Series were raving about the character portrayal of Iza Calzado as Leonor Custodio after the pilot episode aired last Aug. 15.

In the story, Leonor is the first keeper of the tiny meteorite stone that transforms her into the first Darna. She passes on the superheroine’s power to her daughter Narda (portrayed by Jane de Leon). Viewers will definitely stay tuned to the weeknight series to find out how the former has prepared the latter to become the next Darna.

But did you know that in 2004, Iza was offered to flesh out in a television series the Filipino superheroine comic book character in red and gold outfit?

It was still vivid in the Kapamilya actress’ memory of every detail of her journey after being approached to play the part. Iza revealed about the two surgeries she had “to kind of fix the body,” as she put it.

“To be specific, it was an 18-year journey,” began Iza during our one-on-one for The Interviewer Presents on The Boy Abunda Talk Channel, a.k.a Batalk channel, on YouTube. “It has been 18 years since I was first approached, sat down and told, ‘We want you to play Darna,’ without it being a dream (role) of mine growing up because (Darna is) picture-perfect. Beyond Barbie pa ito kasi naka two-piece, perfect ka dapat.

“So, I did two surgeries to, kind of, fix the body because I had lost a hundred pounds, so loose skin and everything. I had a tummy tuck and thigh lift — (surgeries were performed) one after the other. At that time, s’yempre, literal na masakit ‘yung surgeries,” she added.

After she went under the knife, Iza said she still had to audition. Unfortunately, she was not chosen for the role. “It was never for me and you know what, Angel Locsin at that time was perfect for the role. It was meant for her.”

Iza would like to make it clear that she’s sharing her story not for anything. “I never even told myself, at that time, na akin dapat ‘yun. As soon as these things happened, I knew it was not meant for me. I let go pero s’yempre the feeling of, I did the surgeries for a role, that stays with you. The regret, ‘Why was I so impulsive in deciding to do this for a specific project na hindi naman natuloy?’ I had to deal with that, I had to grapple with that for years.”

In order to “heal” and find the love and beauty she has within, Iza began her self-love journey which led her to perceive life better. It was in 2017 when Iza was offered to play Leonor “even without me manifesting it,” she declared.

The 40-year-old actress is expecting her first child with husband Ben Wintle.

Photos from Iza Calzado’s official Facebook page

Iza recalled she was then still doing A Love to Last when her manager Noel Ferrer informed her about a meeting with then Star Cinema head Malou Santos regarding the offer. Iza was honest to admit that she “probably can’t or won’t wear that two-piece” but she was assured of having a completely different costume.

To pull off her own stunts, training and rehearsals followed right after she agreed to the role. “Jane and I trained for three weeks — just the two of us and the staff,” Iza said.

“I knew I needed to give my best and then I had to learn these kicks — side kick, back kick — and I was afraid. Ang dami kong fears, hindi nga ako nag-ba-bike nung bata ako, hahaha! While I was doing it (training), I was proving to myself that I can do it.”

Iza added that Jane is more fearless and always prepared for whatever it is she needs to do for the role.

Aside from having learned some martial arts techniques, Iza also discovered her inner strength “because you’re unleashing your own ‘superhero’ which I believe everybody has inside.”

Young audiences have been highly responsive to the theme of superheroes like Darna because it is empowering. Even though the theme is fictional, a superhero is a great role model for children.

“What I realized when I was preparing for the role and doing the training, the wisdom we gain through life experiences — knowing that life isn’t perfect or we are not perfect — enables us to embrace life despite the odds. So, despite the trials, you have to try (to face) them and you become a hero.”

Iza also believes that Darna remains relevant in this day and age.

“Darna will always be relevant because we’re all grappling with our shadows. We’re all trying to find that hero within and oftentimes, we look towards other people and that’s great to have people to look up to.”

Sometimes, Iza stressed, you need people who believe in you “because it’s about you embracing your own hero. You will not become that if there are no people around you, supporting you and that’s how I felt.”

She continued, “My biggest source of light is God and I’m so lucky that kahit mahirap ako kasama sa buhay hahaha, God gave me a partner. Ben has been so supportive. He has really helped me believe I have a (hidden) hero within me.”

As Maya Angelou said in one of her poems, “Nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone.”

Iza will certainly never be alone, especially now that she is pregnant with her first child with husband Ben Wintle, she announced on Instagram last Aug. 12, the exact day of her 40th birthday.

Congratulations to Iza and Ben who are currently in London.