Actress. Daughter of conductor Pippo Barzizza, Isa began her theatrical career at a very young age, taking part in some prose performances with Ruggero Ruggeri, Elsa Merlini, and Eduardo De Filippo. The real big launch in the world of theater was given to her by Erminio Macario, who, at the age of seventeen, wanted her in two of his theatrical shows: "Le educande di San Babila" (1947) and "Follie di Amleto" (1947–48). Initially, her father opposed her decision to pursue an artistic career but allowed himself to be convinced on the condition that the young girl be followed by a governess. Pretty, with her splendid body and delicate irony, Barzizza soon became the darling of Italian post-war theater. Her other theatrical "godfather," after Macario, was Totò, with whom she also acted as a partner in cinema and with whom she acted in the theater in Michele Galdieri's "C'era una volta il mondo" (1947–48) alongside Elena Giusti and in "Bada che ti mangio" (1948–49) alongside Mario Riva and Diana Dei. Totò taught her comedic timing, contact with the public, how to move on stage—in short, all the secrets of his trade. In "Bada che ti mangio," Barzizza and Totò were the protagonists of the unforgettable sketch of the "sleeping car" (which also concluded the film "Totò a Colori"). Barzizza soon established herself on screen as well. In fact, she starred in over thirty films, the first of which was Mario Mattoli's "I due orfanelli" (1947), often alongside Totò, Macario and Carlo Dapporto. In the 1951–52 season, she was discovered by Garinei and Giovannini, who exalted her great beauty and easy sense of humor in the theatrical show "Gran baldoria." In the same years, she also tackled prose theater by reciting Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," directed by Renato Castellani and then often appearing in brilliant theater set up for TV. On January 3, 1954, the day when official programs of Italian television began, RAI broadcast Carlo Goldoni's one-act "Osteria della posta," which saw Barzizza as the protagonist. In 1955–56 she interpreted the musical comedy "Valentina," by Marchesi and Metz with Isa Pola, Enrico Viarisio and Franco Scandurra—a love story of two engaged couples who take a leap forward in time. In 1957 the actress left theater for family reasons. Around the 1960s she founded Citiemme—a dubbing company—dedicating herself to this activity both as an entrepreneur and artistic director. She returned to theater in the early 90s starring in numerous comedies including George Feydeau's "La pulce nell'orecchio" directed by Gigi Proietti; Joseph Otto Kesserling's "Arsenic and Old Lace" directed by Mario Monicelli; and Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette's "Gigi" directed by Filippo Crivelli. In summer 1995 she took part in Spoleto Festival with Arthur Miller's "The Last Yankee," directed by John Crowther. In 1999 alongside great Lauretta Masiero she was sublime in Aldo Palazzeschi's "Le Sorelle Materassi," confirming as always her great style and unmistakable skill. At same time she also returned to work in cinema and television. Among other things she starred in film "Ardena" (1997) with Arnoldo Foà and Luca Barbareschi; hosted gravure "Mai dire mai" (1989) with Fabio Fazio and Giampiero Mughini on Raitre; and participated in Raiuno fiction "Non lasciamoci più" (1999), followed by "Non lasciamoci più 2" (2001) with Fabrizio Frizzi Paolo Ferrari and Debora Caprioglioglio.