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Summer Bishil
Bishil in August 2005.
Born	July 17, 1988 (1988-07-17) (age 21) Pasadena, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2005—present

Summer Bishil (born July 17, 1988) is an American television and movie actress. She first came to prominence for her role as Jasira in the film Towelhead.

In 2006, Bishil was chosen to play the lead in Alan Ball's film, Towelhead, an adaptation of the novel of the same name. She completed filming Wayne Kramer's project, Crossing Over, starring Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd.

In 2007, Bishil was chosen by Variety as one of the 10 Actors to watch.^[1] At the 2008 Young Hollywood Awards, She was chosen as "One to Watch"^[2] She also appeared in Vanity Fair in their young Hollywood portfolio.^[3] She was nominated for a Spirit Award in the best actress category for her role in Towelhead.^[4]

Biography

Early years

Summer was born in Pasadena California, to an American mother and an Indian father. She is the youngest in a family of three children (two daughters, one son). Bishil lived in Pasadena until she was three when her family moved to Saudi Arabia and then to Bahrain returning to Pasadena at the age of 14.^[5] Bishil, her brother and mother returned to Southern California when she was fourteen,^[6] where she completed an independent study program for high school. But returning to the United States was not easy at first. "I initially had some tough times trying to assimilate. It really makes you think about who you are and where you’re at.”^[7]

Career

In love with the idea of becoming an actress since the age of five, Bishil was 14 before she took her first acting class. Nine months later, a manager and agency signed her to a contract. Her first role was on a short-lived Nickelodeon show, Just for Kicks followed by several appearances in kids shows before her break-through performance in Towelhead. Slate critic Dana Stevens said that "Her performance is the truest thing in a movie that, for all its good intentions, feels thoroughly phony and mildly embarrassing, like an extended PSA about inappropriate touching."^[8] Bob Strauss who writes for several Los Angeles newspapers states that Bishil, "...is one of the finest natural film actresses to emerge in years."^{[citation needed]} Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times in a September 12 review of the movie Towelhead, stated that, "...newcomer Summer Bishil turns in a gutsy, quietly riveting performance as Jasira."^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

References

External links

• Summer Bishil at the Internet Movie Database