Summer Bishil Bio

Summer Bishil was born in Pasadena, California. When she turned three years older, her family and her moved to America. Summer went to American as well as British schools as her family was living abroad. They returned to Pasadena shortly before her 14th birthday. Attracted by the idea of being an actor since when she was just five years old, Summer took her first acting class at 14. Nine months after that, she signed with an agent/manager and began her full-time work. She is currently pursuing her college degree in her spare time. Named one of the "Ten Actors To Watch" by Variety (2007). Nominated for Best Actress – Spirit Award. Bishil started taking acting classes when she was 14. Within a year, Bishil was signed to an employment contract by a management or agency. Bishil's first role was in the brief-lived Nickelodeon show Just for Kicks, followed by appearances in other children's shows.Bishil's first big break came when she played the lead in Alan Ball's film, Towelhead in 2007, an adaptation of the novel with the same name. Dana Stevens, a Slate critic, said that "Her performance in a film that , despite its best intentions seems completely fake as well as embarrassing and like an extended PSA about inappropriate touching is the most truthful thing." Bob Strauss writes for many Los Angeles newspapers and states that Bishil "...is one of the most natural film actresses ever. Gary Goldstein, in a September 12 Los Angeles Times, review of Towelhead said that Summer Bishil ("...newcomer) provides a compelling and captivating performance as Jasira. "In 2009, she filmed Wayne Kramer's project, Crossing Over, starring Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd, a portrayal that received some favorable notice from the Associated Press's Jay Reiner. The film was a success and she was cast as Azula in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 film The Last Airbender. This was to be the main theme of the planned yet unproduced sequel.