Summer Bishil Bio

Summer Bishil was born in Pasadena, California. Her family went to Europe when she was just three. Summer was a student at American as well as British schools, while her family lived abroad. She returned to Pasadena, California just shy of her fourteenth birthday. Summer was five years old when she fell in love with acting and enrolled in her first acting class. Nine months after, she signed a contract with an agent/manager to begin her full-time work. She is currently working towards her college degree in her free time. One of the "Ten Actors to Watch" by Variety (2007). Nominee for Best Actress – Spirit Award. Bishil started acting lessons at the age of fourteen. In just one year she was signed with an agency and manager. Bishil's first performance was in the brief-lived Nickelodeon show Just for Kicks, followed by appearances on other children's shows.Bishil's breakthrough performance came as the lead actress in Alan Ball's film Towelhead in 2007, an adaptation of the novel with the same name. Dana Stevens, a critic for Slate and Slate, stated that Bishil's performance was "the most honest thing" in an film that had the best intentions, but made it feel fake and somewhat embarrassing. It was like an extended PSA concerning inappropriate touching. Bob Strauss, a Los Angeles newspaper journalist, stated that Bishil "...is one of the most talented natural actors in recent times. Gary Goldstein, in a September 12 Los Angeles Times, review of Towelhead declared that Summer Bishil ("...newcomer) provides a compelling and captivating performance as Jasira. In 2009, she filmed Wayne Kramer’s Crossing Over movie starring Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, and Ashley Judd. Jay Reiner, Associated Press, appreciated her portrayal. She was picked to play Azula in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 film The Last Airbender. This was supposed to be the main subject of the planned but never released sequel.