Since giving birth to her first child in 2023, actress Iza Calzado says she definitely has no regrets about growing her family with her husband Ben Wintle and not being as active in showbiz as she was before. The 43-year-old actress was last seen on film in movies like Quezon (2025) and The Kingdom (2024) and the 2020 ABS-CBN series Ang sa Iyo Ay Akin.
During the Smart Parenting Mother’s Day Fair 2026 event last May 9, Iza shared with PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview how motherhood has really changed her as an actress.
“Well I haven’t been on set as often as I would like to be. But the few times that I have been privileged enough to step on set playing mother roles, ano talaga, best acting workshop for me ang motherhood. Because it has really deepened my understanding of motherhood, of love, and the journey,“ she said.
READ: Iza Calzado pens letter to daughter Deia on International Women’s Day
Iza shared that, at this phase in her life, she is still learning and growing as an individual as well as a mom. “It’s a continuous discovery. Again, that I am able to love this much, and sacrifice as much as I have for Deia and the family, the Iza back then was not the same person. I’m not the same person. What I discovered is I am really a student of life. But even more so now. Talagang bukas na bukas ako at gustong gusto ko matuto because I want to be better for Deia and for myself, of course.”
During the Mother’s Day event, the Smart Parenting May 2026 cover model also couldn’t help but get emotional and shared one of the biggest challenges she has ever had to face as a mom. “The frustration towards myself because of not really being able to breastfeed. But that’s something I really have to work on, especially during the early days. Now I’m very, very okay with it. Tanggap ko na naman siya. Hindi na kasing sakit nung early days. Other frustrating parts sometimes yung hindi nasusunod yung gusto mo. That’s motherhood. You’re not in control. Control is an illusion.”