Summer Bishil Bio

Summer Bishil was raised in Pasadena (California). She and her family relocated overseas when she was three. Summer went to British and American schools, while her family was living abroad. returning to her home town of Pasadena just a few days shy of her 14th birthday. Summer was five years old when she fell in love with acting and took her first acting class. Nine months later she got an agent and manager and began to pursue her career full time. She is enrolled in college in her own time, and is working to earn her degree. She was one of the stars of the future featured in Vanity Fair’s August 2008 cover story, "Hollywood’s New Wave: Hollywood's Most Hot Kids in Hollywood". Bishil started her acting lessons at age 14 years old. Within a year, she was given a contract by an agent and a manager. Bishil was first seen on the Nickelodeon TV series Just for Kicks. She has since appeared in various other children's shows. In 2007, she played the lead actress in Alan Ball's film Towelhead the film adaptation of the novel. Dana Stevens, a critic for Slate, said that Bishil's performance was "the most genuine thing" in an film that even with the best intentions appeared to be fake and mildly embarrassing. It was similar to an extended PSA concerning inappropriate touching. Bob Strauss, a Los Angeles newspaper journalist, stated that Bishil "...is among the most gifted natural actors of recent years. Gary Goldstein, in a September 12, Los Angeles Times, review of Towelhead noted that Summer Bishil ("...newcomer) provides a compelling and impressive 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 chosen to portray Azula in M. Night Shyamalan's film The Last Airbender, and was slated to be the subject of the unproduced but planned sequel.