{{Short description|American actress}} {{Infobox person | name = Summer Bishil | image = | image size = | caption = Bishil in 2016 | birth_name = Summer Yasmine Bishil | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|7|17}} | birth_place = Pasadena, California, U.S. | yearsactive = 2005–present | occupation = Actress | height= {{Convert|63|in|ft}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DOOkRB1EWC0/?img_index=3|date=September 5, 2025|title=August was WILD|publisher=Instagram|last=Bishil|first=Summer|quote=I'm Summer Bishil, I'm five foot three.}}</ref> }}
'''Summer Yasmine Bishil'''<ref name="TVGuide">{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/summer-bishil/283851/ |title=Summer Bishil |work=TV Guide |access-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505140325/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/summer-bishil/283851/|archive-date=2017-05-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> (born July 17, 1988)<ref name="Hollywood.com">{{cite web |title=Summer Bishil |url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/summer-bishil-58442766/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224131411/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/summer-bishil-58442766/ |archive-date=2017-02-24 |access-date=February 23, 2017 |website=Hollywood.com}}</ref> is an American actress. She first came to prominence starring as Jasira in the 2007 film ''Towelhead'', for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Over the following few years, she had small roles in films and TV series like ''The Last Airbender'' (2010) and ''90210'' (2011) before starring in the short-lived ABC series ''Lucky 7'' (2013). She starred as Margo Hanson on the Syfy fantasy drama series ''The Magicians'' from 2015 to 2020.
==Early life and education== Bishil was born in Pasadena, California<ref name="Variety#1" /> and is the youngest of three children. Her mother is of half-Mexican descent while her father is of Indian ancestry.<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news |first=Michael|last=O'Sullivan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/12/AR2009031201002.html |title=Summer Bishil Aims to Play Against Type |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 13, 2009 |access-date=June 1, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Yahoo Movies" /> In 1991, when Bishil was three years old, the family moved to Saudi Arabia and then to Bahrain,<ref name="Yahoo Movies">{{cite web |title=Summer Bishil - Biography |url=https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/person/summer-bishil/biography.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107074836/https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/person/summer-bishil/biography.html |archive-date=January 7, 2015 |website=Yahoo! Movies Canada |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="Variety#1">{{cite magazine |last=Jones|first=Michael |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/summer-bishil-2-1117974423/ |title=Summer Bishil – 'Nothing is Private' starlet living the dream |magazine=Variety |date=October 19, 2007 |access-date=June 1, 2016}}</ref><ref name="LA Times" /> where she and her brother attended British and American schools.
The September 11 attacks prompted her family to return to the United States.<ref name="Yahoo Movies" /> They moved to a Mormon community in San Diego where she attended a regular public high school for a week.<ref name="Yahoo Movies" /><ref name="LA Times">{{cite news |first=Rachel|last=Abramowitz |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-03-et-brief3-story.html |title=In suburbia, a world of woes |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 3, 2008 |access-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref> Because of the post-9/11 tension in the U.S., her schoolmates did not welcome her kindly.<ref name="Yahoo Movies" /> She stated that the return was not easy: "I hated it. I was called a whore on the first day of school, and somebody said they thought my dad funded terrorism. I just knew that nobody was ever going to want to be my friend there. I had panic attacks the first year of my life here."<ref name="LA Times" /> The family later moved to Arcadia, where her mother home schooled her.<ref name="Yahoo Movies" /><ref name="LA Times" /> She took classes at Citrus College in Glendora, California.<ref name="Washington Post" />
==Career== Bishil started acting lessons at age 14. Within a year, she was signed to a contract with a manager and agency. Bishil's first role was on the short-lived Nickelodeon television show ''Just for Kicks'', followed by appearances in several other children's shows.
Bishil's breakthrough performance<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael|last=Rechtshaffen |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/towelhead-158879/ |title=Towelhead |work=The Hollywood Reporter |agency=Associated Press |date=September 12, 2007 |access-date=March 6, 2022 |quote=In a head-turning breakthrough performance, 19-year-old Summer Bishil (who looks much younger) is the budding adolescent in question...}}</ref> came as the lead in Alan Ball's film, ''Towelhead'' in 2007, an adaptation of the novel of the same name. ''Slate'' critic Dana Stevens said, "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."<ref>{{cite news |last=Stevens|first=Dana |url=https://slate.com/culture/2008/09/alan-ball-s-towelhead-reviewed.html |title=Towelhead; It's no fun being a sexually curious, biracial teenager in Houston. |work=Slate |date=September 12, 2008 |access-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref> Bob Strauss, who writes for several Los Angeles newspapers, states that Bishil, "...is one of the finest natural film actresses to emerge in years."<ref>{{cite web |first=Bob|last=Strauss |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/entertainment/1553858/towelhead_is_meant_to_provoke/ |title='Towelhead' is Meant to Provoke |publisher=redOrbit |date=September 13, 2008 |access-date=June 1, 2016}}</ref> Gary Goldstein in a September 12 ''Los Angeles Times'' review of the movie ''Towelhead'', stated that, "...newcomer Summer Bishil turns in a gutsy, quietly riveting performance as Jasira."<ref>{{cite news |first=Gary|last=Goldstein |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-12-et-towelhead12-story.html |title=It's awkward, like puberty |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 12, 2008 |access-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref>
In 2009, she filmed Wayne Kramer's project, ''Crossing Over'', starring Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd,<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Todd|last=McCarthy |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/crossing-over-2-1200473653/ |title=Review: 'Crossing Over' |magazine=Variety |date=February 16, 2009 |access-date=June 1, 2016 |quote=More bracing, although again nothing new, is the sorry fate of a Bangladeshi teenager (Summer Bishil, "Towelhead") who has the audacity to present a not-unsympathetic view of the 9/11 hijackers to a school class.}}</ref> a portrayal that received some favorable notice from ''Associated Press''{{'}}s Jay Reiner.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jay|last=Reiner |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/crossing-79409/ |title='Crossing Over' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |agency=Associated Press |date=February 17, 2009 |access-date=March 6, 2022 |quote=Summer Bishil, star of Alan Ball's "Towelhead," is affecting as a Muslim girl whose rash actions tear her family apart.}}</ref> She was chosen to portray Azula in M. Night Shyamalan's 2010 film ''The Last Airbender'', and was planned to be the focus of the planned but never-produced sequel.<ref>{{cite news |first=Brian|last=Warmoth |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1643066/last-airbender-2-will-be-darker-m-night-shyamalan-says/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613021346/http://www.mtv.com/news/1643066/last-airbender-2-will-be-darker-m-night-shyamalan-says/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |title='Last Airbender 2' Will Be 'Darker,' M. Night Shyamalan Says |work=MTV News |date=July 6, 2010 |access-date=June 1, 2016 |quote=His description of the story implies that Summer Bishil's character from the film currently in theaters has plenty left to do onscreen as Aang (Noah Ringer) continues his fight against the Fire Nation.}}</ref>
In 2013, Bishil was cast as Samira one of the lead roles on the short-lived ABC drama ''Lucky 7''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nellie|last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/abc-pilot-lucky-7-casts-four-co-leads-foxs-enisted-enlists-two-co-leads-444199/ |title=ABC Pilot 'Lucky 7' Casts Four Co-Leads, Fox's 'Enisted' Enlists Two Co-Leads |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 1, 2013 |access-date=June 1, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Nellie|last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2013/05/abc-picks-up-marveljoss-whedens-s-h-i-e-l-d-to-series-496001/ |title=UPDATE: ABC Picks Up 'Once Upon A Time' Spinoff, 'Mixology', 'The Returned', 'Killer Women', 'Lucky 7', 'Betrayal', 'Trophy Wife', Cullen Bros, 'Influence', 'The Goldbergs', 'Super Fun Night', 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' To Series |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 10, 2013 |access-date=June 1, 2016}}</ref> In late 2014, Bishil was cast in the role of Margo Hanson in the Syfy drama series ''The Magicians'',<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Kevin|last=Noonan |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/syfys-the-magicians-adds-towelhead-star-summer-bishil-1201374279/ |title=SyFy's 'The Magicians' Adds 'Towelhead' Star Summer Bishil |magazine=Variety |date=December 8, 2014 |access-date=June 1, 2016}}</ref> which ended after five seasons in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barrera |first=Sandra |date=2020-07-23 |title=‘The Magicians’ star Summer Bishil lists Pasadena mid-century for $2.1 million |url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2020/07/23/the-magicians-star-summer-bishil-lists-pasadena-mid-century-for-2-1-million/ |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=Pasadena Star News |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Film roles |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | align="center"| 2007 | ''Towelhead'' | Jasira Maroun | |- | align="center"| 2009 | ''Crossing Over'' | Taslima Jahangir | |- | align="center"| 2010 | ''Mooz-lum'' | Iman | |- | align="center"| 2010 | ''Public Relations'' | Sara | |- | align="center"| 2010 | ''The Last Airbender'' | Azula | Cameo |- | align="center"| 2013 | ''Pop Star'' | Priscilla | |- | align="center"| 2018 | ''Under the Silver Lake'' | The Girlfriend | |- | align="center"| 2022 | ''Four Samosas'' | Rina | |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Television roles |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | align="center"| 2005 | ''Days of Our Lives'' | Stacey | Episode #1.10164 |- | align="center"| 2006 | ''Just for Kicks'' | Stacey | Episode: "Premiere Episode: Part 2" |- | align="center"| 2006 | ''Drake & Josh'' | Tabitha | Episode: "Josh Runs Into Oprah" |- | align="center"| 2006 | ''Hannah Montana'' | Rachel | Episode: "Good Golly, Miss Dolly" |- | align="center"| 2006 | ''Return to Halloweentown'' | Aneesa | Television film |- | align="center"| 2009 | ''Three Rivers'' | Karen Rollins | Episode: "Good Intentions" |- | align="center"| 2010 | ''{{sortname|The|Whole Truth|The Whole Truth (TV series)}}'' | Michelle Penner | Episode: "Young Love" |- | align="center"| 2011 | ''90210'' | Leila Shirazi | 4 episodes |- | align="center"| 2013 | ''Lucky 7'' | Samira | Main role; 8 episodes |- | align="center"| 2013 | ''Blast Vegas'' | Serena | Television film |- | align="center"| 2014 | ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' | Heba Salim | Episode: "Criminal Stories" |- | align="center"| 2015 | ''iZombie'' | Eliza Marquette | Episode: "Flight of the Living Dead" |- | align="center"| 2015–2020 | ''The Magicians'' | Margo | Main role; 65 episodes |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! class="unsortable" | Refs |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2008 | Young Hollywood Awards | One to Watch | ''Towelhead'' | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>''Hollywood Life'', Volume XIX, No. 1. Spring 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2008 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Female Lead | ''Towelhead'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew|last=O'Hehir |url=http://www.salon.com/2008/12/04/goth_spirits/ |title=Oscar season's bewildering kickoff |work=Salon |date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=June 1, 2016 |quote=This year's prize went to Melissa Leo for "Frozen River." She was also nominated in the Spirits' female lead category, along with Summer Bishil for "Towelhead," Anne Hathaway for "Rachel Getting Married," Tarra Riggs for "Ballast" and Michelle Williams for "Wendy and Lucy."}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1974397|Summer Bishil}} *{{Tcmdb name}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishil, Summer}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Actresses from Pasadena, California Category:American child actresses Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American actresses of Indian descent Category:American actresses of Mexican descent Category:American expatriates in Bahrain Category:21st-century American actresses