Summer Glau
Encyclopedia
Summer Lyn Glau is an American actress, known for playing River Tam in the science fiction
series Firefly
and follow-up film Serenity
, and for playing Cameron in the series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
, where she grew up with her two younger sisters (Kaitlin and Christie). She is of Scots-Irish
and German
descent. Her mother is a school teacher and her father a general contractor.
Glau received a scholarship to a ballet company and was home-schooled from grades 3 to 12 to accommodate her ballet training. Glau was classically trained as a ballet
dancer and also studied tango
and flamenco
. After a serious ankle injury ended her dancing career, Glau later moved to Los Angeles in 2002 to pursue a more active acting career.
. There she caught the eye of director Joss Whedon
, who later cast her in his critically acclaimed but short-lived TV series Firefly
as River Tam, a role she reprised for the show's feature film sequel, Serenity
. Glau previously auditioned for the role as a Pink Ranger on one of the Power Rangers
series before meeting Joss Whedon.
Glau appeared on the episode "Love Conquers Al" of the TV series
Cold Case. She had a small role in the film Sleepover
, in which she played a high school senior
named Shelly. She also appeared in the CSI
episode "What's Eating Gilbert Grissom?", and the second season of The Unit
; portraying Crystal Burns, the girlfriend of Jeremy Erhart. In 2006, Glau played Tess Doerner
, a paranoid
schizophrenic
returnee in the second season premiere of The 4400
(episode "Wake-Up Call
"), and became a recurring character from season 3 onwards. She also starred in the science fiction film
Mammoth
. Glau was cast in the ABC Family
TV movie The Initiation of Sarah.
In Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, a series that debuted January 13, 2008, Glau played the role of Cameron Phillips, a Terminator infiltration unit sent back to protect John Connor
and Sarah Connor from Skynet. The seventh episode of the series, "The Demon Hand", included several scenes in which Glau (in character as Cameron) dances ballet
. Glau also guest starred as herself in the 2009 episode "The Terminator Decoupling
" from the second season of the CBS
situation comedy
The Big Bang Theory
.
On August 26, 2009, it was confirmed after much speculation that Glau would be joining the cast of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse
for at least two episodes in the early part of the show's second season. She portrayed Bennett, the programmer for a rival Dollhouse.
On March 12, 2010, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of NBC's The Cape in a leading role. In June 2010 she was confirmed as the female lead in the black comedy flick Knights of Badassdom.
Glau voiced Kara Zor-El in the DC Comics original animated movie Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
.
and received a 2005 Saturn Award
for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Serenity. She was also runner up for Best Actress/Movie in the SyFy Genre Awards for 2006.
In 2008, she received the Best Supporting Television Actress award at the 34th Saturn Awards
for her performance as Cameron Phillips in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and was nominated for the Spike TV Scream Awards
in the category Best Actress in a Science Fiction Movie or TV Show for the same role.
Glau is an animal lover and has shown support to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, where she hand-painted a decorative pet bowl that was later sold on eBay to raise funds. She became a vegetarian in 1995 but stated she ate steaks during the filming on the 2005 film Serenity
due to the amount of physical training required. Glau has trained in multiple forms of martial arts, including kung fu
and kickboxing
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series Firefly
Firefly (TV series)
Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear....
and follow-up film Serenity
Serenity (film)
Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship...
, and for playing Cameron in the series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Early life
Glau was born in San Antonio, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, where she grew up with her two younger sisters (Kaitlin and Christie). She is of Scots-Irish
Scots-Irish American
Scotch-Irish Americans are an estimated 250,000 Presbyterian and other Protestant dissenters from the Irish province of Ulster who immigrated to North America primarily during the colonial era and their descendants. Some scholars also include the 150,000 Ulster Protestants who immigrated to...
and German
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
descent. Her mother is a school teacher and her father a general contractor.
Glau received a scholarship to a ballet company and was home-schooled from grades 3 to 12 to accommodate her ballet training. Glau was classically trained as a ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dancer and also studied tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
and flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
. After a serious ankle injury ended her dancing career, Glau later moved to Los Angeles in 2002 to pursue a more active acting career.
Career
Glau's first television credit was a guest role as a ballerina on the 2002 episode "Waiting in the Wings" of the television series AngelAngel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
. There she caught the eye of director Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
, who later cast her in his critically acclaimed but short-lived TV series Firefly
Firefly (TV series)
Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear....
as River Tam, a role she reprised for the show's feature film sequel, Serenity
Serenity (film)
Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship...
. Glau previously auditioned for the role as a Pink Ranger on one of the Power Rangers
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
series before meeting Joss Whedon.
Glau appeared on the episode "Love Conquers Al" of the TV series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Cold Case. She had a small role in the film Sleepover
Sleepover (2004 film)
Sleepover is a 2004 American teen film directed by Joe Nussbaum and starring Alexa Vega and Sara Paxton.-Plot:On the last day of 8th grade before their freshman year in high school, Julie Corky has a slumber party with 3 best friends, Hannah Carlson , Yancy Williams , and Farrah James...
, in which she played a high school senior
Secondary education in the United States
In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education. Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade , and high school, beginning with...
named Shelly. She also appeared in the CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
episode "What's Eating Gilbert Grissom?", and the second season of The Unit
The Unit
The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force...
; portraying Crystal Burns, the girlfriend of Jeremy Erhart. In 2006, Glau played Tess Doerner
Tess Doerner
Tess Doerner is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400, played by Summer Glau. She disappeared April 3, 1955.-Season Two:...
, a paranoid
Paranoia
Paranoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
schizophrenic
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
returnee in the second season premiere of The 4400
The 4400
The 4400 is a science fiction TV series produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sky Television, Renegade 83, and American Zoetrope for USA Network. The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, and it stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
(episode "Wake-Up Call
Wake Up Call (The 4400 episode)
"Wake Up Call" is an episode of the science fiction television series The 4400.- Synopsis :Tom and Diana investigate a 4400 who is influencing the creation of a super-structure.- Part 1 :...
"), and became a recurring character from season 3 onwards. She also starred in the science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
Mammoth
Mammoth (film)
Mammoth is a 2006 feature film directed by Tim Cox and produced by Plinyminor in association with the Sci Fi Channel starring Vincent Ventresca, Summer Glau, Leila Arcieri and Tom Skerritt...
. Glau was cast in the ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
TV movie The Initiation of Sarah.
In Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, a series that debuted January 13, 2008, Glau played the role of Cameron Phillips, a Terminator infiltration unit sent back to protect John Connor
John Connor
John Connor is a character appearing in the American science fiction Terminator franchise and he serves as the series main protagonist. Created by writer and director James Cameron, the character is first referred to in the 1984 film The Terminator and first appears portrayed by teenage actor...
and Sarah Connor from Skynet. The seventh episode of the series, "The Demon Hand", included several scenes in which Glau (in character as Cameron) dances ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
. Glau also guest starred as herself in the 2009 episode "The Terminator Decoupling
The Terminator Decoupling
"The Terminator Decoupling" is an episode of the television series The Big Bang Theory that first aired on CBS on March 9, 2009. It is the seventeenth episode of the second season of the series and the thirty-fourth episode overall...
" from the second season of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
.
On August 26, 2009, it was confirmed after much speculation that Glau would be joining the cast of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse
Dollhouse (TV series)
Dollhouse is an American science fiction television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon under Mutant Enemy Productions. It premiered on February 13, 2009, on the Fox network and was officially cancelled on November 11, 2009. The final episode aired on January 29, 2010...
for at least two episodes in the early part of the show's second season. She portrayed Bennett, the programmer for a rival Dollhouse.
On March 12, 2010, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of NBC's The Cape in a leading role. In June 2010 she was confirmed as the female lead in the black comedy flick Knights of Badassdom.
Glau voiced Kara Zor-El in the DC Comics original animated movie Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is a 2010 direct-to-video animated film based on the Superman/Batman comic storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton" and is a sequel to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The art style is partly based on that of Michael Turner, who penciled the Superman/Batman comic book arc...
.
Awards
Glau was voted Best Actress of 2005 by readers of SFX magazineSFX magazine
SFX is a British magazine covering the topics of science fiction and fantasy.-Description:SFX magazine is published every four weeks by Future Publishing and was founded in 1995. The magazine covers topics in the genres of popular science fiction, fantasy and horror, within the media of films,...
and received a 2005 Saturn Award
Saturn Award
The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Serenity. She was also runner up for Best Actress/Movie in the SyFy Genre Awards for 2006.
In 2008, she received the Best Supporting Television Actress award at the 34th Saturn Awards
34th Saturn Awards
The 34th Saturn Awards, honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror film and television in 2007 were presented on June 24, 2008 in Universal City Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.Below is a complete list of nominees and winners...
for her performance as Cameron Phillips in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and was nominated for the Spike TV Scream Awards
Scream Awards
The Scream Awards is an award show dedicated to the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres of feature films. Originally only having Scream Queen and Heroic Performance awards for actors, the personnel awards have expanded to include actors and actresses of all three recognized genres. In addition,...
in the category Best Actress in a Science Fiction Movie or TV Show for the same role.
Personal life
Summer Glau has been involved in a number of charities, such as B.C. Women's Hospital & Health CentreB.C. Women's Hospital & Health Centre
BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is a Canadian hospital located in Vancouver, British Columbia, specializing in women's health programs. It is the only facility in Western Canada dedicated to the health of women, newborns and families, and...
Glau is an animal lover and has shown support to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, where she hand-painted a decorative pet bowl that was later sold on eBay to raise funds. She became a vegetarian in 1995 but stated she ate steaks during the filming on the 2005 film Serenity
Serenity (film)
Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship...
due to the amount of physical training required. Glau has trained in multiple forms of martial arts, including kung fu
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
and kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Angel Angel (TV series) Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999... |
Prima Ballerina | Episode: "Waiting in the Wings" |
| 2002–2003 | Firefly Firefly (TV series) Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear.... |
River Tam | Series regular, 14 episodes |
| 2003 | Cold Case | Paige Pratt | Episode: "Love Conquers Al" |
| 2004 | Sleepover | Ticket Girl | |
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer... |
Mandy Cooper | Episode: "What's Eating Gilbert Grissom?" |
| 2005 | Serenity Serenity (film) Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship... |
River Tam | |
| 2005–2007 | Tess Doerner Tess Doerner Tess Doerner is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400, played by Summer Glau. She disappeared April 3, 1955.-Season Two:... |
9 episodes | |
| 2006 | Mammoth Mammoth (film) Mammoth is a 2006 feature film directed by Tim Cox and produced by Plinyminor in association with the Sci Fi Channel starring Vincent Ventresca, Summer Glau, Leila Arcieri and Tom Skerritt... |
Jack Abernathy | TV movie |
| 2006 | Lindsey Goodwin | TV movie | |
| 2006–2007 | Crystal Burns | 7 episodes | |
| 2008–2009 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Cameron Phillips / Allison Young | Series regular, 31 episodes |
| 2009 | Herself | Episode: "The Terminator Decoupling The Terminator Decoupling "The Terminator Decoupling" is an episode of the television series The Big Bang Theory that first aired on CBS on March 9, 2009. It is the seventeenth episode of the second season of the series and the thirty-fourth episode overall... " |
|
| 2009–2010 | Dollhouse Dollhouse (TV series) Dollhouse is an American science fiction television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon under Mutant Enemy Productions. It premiered on February 13, 2009, on the Fox network and was officially cancelled on November 11, 2009. The final episode aired on January 29, 2010... |
Bennett Halverson | 4 episodes |
| 2010 | Chuck Chuck (TV series) Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central... |
Greta | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Fear of Death Chuck Versus the Fear of Death "Chuck Versus the Fear of Death" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired November 15, 2010. Worried his relationship with Sarah Walker is souring, Chuck Bartowski aims to impress by attempting a dangerous mission... " |
| 2010 | Deadly Honeymoon | Lindsey Ross Forrest | TV movie |
| 2010 | Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is a 2010 direct-to-video animated film based on the Superman/Batman comic storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton" and is a sequel to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The art style is partly based on that of Michael Turner, who penciled the Superman/Batman comic book arc... |
Kara / Supergirl (voice) | Video |
| 2010 | Good Morning Rabbit | Lucy | Episode: "National Hamburger Day" |
| 2011 | Knights of Badassdom | Gwen | Post-Production |
| 2011 | Maggie Moon | Completed | |
| 2011 | Jamie Fleming / Code name "Orwell" | Series regular, 10 episodes | |
| 2011 | Alphas Alphas Alphas is an American science fiction dramatic television series created by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow. The series follows a group of people with superhuman abilities, known as "Alphas", as they work to prevent crimes committed by other Alphas.... |
Skylar Adams | Episode: "Catch and Release" |
| 2011 | Music video for Keith Urban Keith Urban Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age... 's song "Long Hot Summer" |
Unnamed main character | Credited in making-of video. |