Who is Summer Glau and Why Am I Obsessed? Part II
PART II of II
I wrote this as sort of a profile for actress and current star of “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”, Summer Glau. It’s an article about her life and career - the things that led me to obsess over her and choose her as my #1 sexy celebrity in the year 2008. Here is Part II of a II part article.
For Part I, CLICK HERE
"The battle for our tomorrow starts today"
I've said before many times on this website that when Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was announced I predicted that it would be cancelled before the end of its first season - I was wrong. As happy as I was when Summer got a lead role, I predicted she was apart of another failed television show - I was wrong. After seeing the pilot episode which I hate and never will watch again, I predicted that this show wasn't going to make it past the first couple of weeks - I was wrong. Now, more than a year later, TSCC has become one of the best told stories on television and one of my personal favorite TV series; a lot of that is attributed to a really fantastic well molded cast which includes, with no small part, Summer Glau.
Years before The Sarah Connor Chronicles was conceived, creator Josh Friedman had Summer in mind while creating an unrelated pilot but at the time she was busy and committed to Serenity, however, he always had Summer in the back of his thoughts, as so many of us always do, for whenever he created another series. When Friedman started his work on TSCC he again wanted Summer to play a part - he called her in for an audition but she was hesitant for several reasons. She believed, first of all, that she wouldn't fit the role of a Terminator and secondly, she believed that the character Friedman created wasn't something she felt put women in a good light.
"I've turned down a lot of roles that I feel are not portraying women in a light that I would like to see," she says in an interview. "I can't change the way people write and produce. I turn down roles that I feel are not encouraging to young girls. That's just my way of contributing." Eventually she was convinced by her mother and finally auditioned where she realized that Friedman created something different than what she initially thought - he created something special. She was cast as Cameron February of 2007.
More after the photo:
Cameron Phillips - A "unknown cyborg" sent back in time to protect the future leader of the worldwide resistance, John Connor. So much is unknown about the character. Some even feel that Cameron and future John are somehow involved, possibly in some kind of sexual acts, which is sick and twisted in a sense but it's not like I'd turn her down.
This role is an amazing challenge for Summer; A Terminator has no emotions and moves in very robotic ways, for lack of a better term, and doing those things as an actor can be difficult. Summer, however, is able to pull it off - she's a Terminator, but there is something different about her. In one character she's able to create an obviously strong, powerful, something you wouldn't want to mess with, in some cases frightening character but there is more to that in Cameron's case. Just like John, she's trying to find her own way and all of us that watch the show know that Cameron is more than just a simple killing machine - there is a soul there, something special, but possibly something more dangerous than anything you can imagine. Summer is also very involved with the creative aspects of her character, always trying new things. In the episode "The Demon Hand" we get to see a little of Summer's graceful ballet, a scene which she choreographed and chose the music for. We may not know the entire truth about this Terminator or Terminatrix but one thing is for sure, Summer has embraced a role she wasn't sure about when offered an audition and has created a character so well received she's won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2008, as well as being nominated for two Teen Choice Awards and a Scream Award. I will admit those awards may not be high standing but it's still recognition for the work. Only if science fiction was taken more seriously with the Emmy's and others, I don't doubt Summer would be nominated for an award.
My praise for Summer, however, also has criticism from other news outlets, critics, and pundits, most of which say she can't act and her character is inconsistent with her emotions. Even though I respect the opinions of others all I can say to those people who don't appreciate Summer as Cameron is, FAIL! Try and pay attention while watching TSCC and you'll start understanding why her emotions are inconsistent. Sometimes there is opinion and sometimes there is what's obvious. All of that said, Summer's performance as Cameron is generally liked, praised, and adored by her fans.
It's almost been two years since Summer has been cast as Cameron and now TSCC is about to air their second half of season two with hopes from the cast, crew, and fans that a green light will be given for a third season.
We don't know what's in store for Summer although she has spoken about, many times, a potential project with Joss Whedon, a short film - a ballet. In 2007 things seemed to be coming together for the project but the Writers Guild of America strike put a stop to it and between TSCC and Joss Whedon's new show Dollhouse, Summer's ballet is hold for a while. Maybe when filming for both shows go on hiatus, they'll work on it.
Summer is still so young and only has made a dent in the world of acting but that dent is still deep enough to make me fall for her and obsess over her along with so many others, but when it comes to those women who make the number one spot on your yearly top 10 list, there must be more to that obsession.
More after the video and the photo:
Why am I obsessed, exactly?
Umm, for starters that video is one reason - wow, that was beautiful. No wonder Derek got misty eyed in an episode of TSCC (see video HERE).
Writing a profile, as this sort of is, is an interesting way of trying to figure out why someone like myself is obsessed with an actress. All of us, no matter who we are or where we come from have celebrity crushes and with out any doubt, if you couldn't tell by now, Summer Glau is my celebrity crush among many for 2008. I admit, I'm obsessed with several actresses; for example; Top 10 2008 Celebrity Hotties. In some cases my admiration comes from basically no where - it could be the particular celebrity is just really hot like Megan Fox but if someone like Summer is going to be my hottest of the hot for the year it has to be more - it has to be something more special than the other actresses. In honest truth, it's difficult to really pick a reason above all reasons. I can name most of the things I love about Summer in a couple of sentences but it still wouldn't effectively relay why she's the 2008 champ. For starters, she's smoking hot - She has a kick you in a stomach, take your breath away smile - She has the sweetest tone of voice I've ever heard... well, almost (Lacey Chabert wins that), She has eyes that say "lets cuddle" and all of you know you'd do it in a heart beat. Granted, those are all of the physical things, but what about the person?
About a two years ago, I sent out a through the mail autograph request to Summer asking if she could sign a few photos I sent along. Those of you who don't send out autograph requests, be aware that sometimes it takes months, even years to get a response. Sometimes you even get the photos sent back to you without any autograph on them but most of the time, depending on particular celebrity TTM record, you'll receive something that's usually personalized. After I sent it out the only thing I could do is wait, and wait I did. I waited.... and waited... and soon just forgot about it. So many things could have happened; it could have been lost in the system, thrown out by Summer's reps and she never got it, or Summer said "screw this guy Phil, he's getting nothing". That, however, is not what happened. After the first season of "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" came to an end, a priority mail envelope showed up at my house - I opened it to find 3 personalized photos to me from Summer herself! That, as you can imagine, was a good day. It says a lot about her. It says that she cares about her fans, even if it is just signing a couple of photos for a fanboy, a fanboy who really does appreciate it. For nearly a year now, I've had one of the photos framed and on display but it's not only a successful autograph request that puts her at the top of my list. If that was the only reason, Katee Sackhoff would be at the top because when I sent an autograph request to her, she signed and sent back 8 photos.... Awesome.
Another big reason; I'm a big fan of "Firefly" and "Terminator". I love the characters she created on both shows and overall I love the dynamic the shows have. If "Firefly" wasn't cancelled, I'd bet it would still be on today airing great episodes, but if that was the case Summer might have never been Terminator or maybe Terminator wouldn't have aired at all.
Part of it might also be the fact that most of us who are fans of both "Firefly" and TSCC have basically watched Summer grow as an actress starting as a unassuming teenage wack job ninja to a tall, sexy, Terminatrix. I've noticed that a lot of genre television stars get a lot more credibility from fans when they go from one science fiction to another, for example; Ben Browder, Claudia Black, and Jewel Staite. Summer, in comparison to others, has played way more interesting roles but I'm not trying to discount the other actors at all.
When it comes down to it all, the reasons to have a celebrity crush, or to have a favorite actor or actress can be infinite or unknown. It just is what it is. In the case of Summer Glau - She's beautiful, she's a star of some of my favorite shows, she's had a lot of exposure in the media this year, she's sweet and good to her fans.
If "Terminator" is fated not to have a third season, whatever happens, I hope Summer will continue to wow us in some other roles she chooses to do and I hope she'll continue to have the high exposure she does. Everyday I'll continue looking out for new interviews, and photos that I can share with all of you Glau fans.
So why am I obsessed with Summer Glau? To be honest, I have no idea... I just am.
Sources: Wikipedia / Summer-Glau.net / Serenity Magazine / IMDB/ Youtube - Thanks to all sources!!
For Part I, CLICK HERE
-Phil
(click to enlarge) Sorry for the dust on the scan. I tried to clean it up but I didn't do a very good job. It was a good day when I got this.
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PHIL, HOW DID U GET THE AUTOGRAPH? In Person? If so, please tell the story.
LOL… read the article… wtf, haha. Did you just skim the post and look at the pics? The little cheap story is in the post Chris.
Your obsession is understandable. I download every pic for my collection you can get your hands on. Thanks for that.
Summer has a magic presence. Like River, she is “a creature of extraordinary grace”. More than an actress, she is an artist, she embodies purity and innocence combined with boldness, vulnerability and delicacy combined with strength and self-confidence. When she walks and talks she flows and sounds like the breeze, and when she runs, you can’t feel her weight in her body movements, and it looks like she’s going to lift off. Usually, though, with the exception of the musical and poetic inspiration of Josh Wheddon, she works for people less gifted and talented than she is. I hope she gets free soon from the dreadful mediocrity of TSCC and has the chance to return to what she can do best: true art and beauty. She is a quintaessential classical ballerina turned actress for our bliss.
You’re right Phil, I can’t imagine what drew me away from your words and to the picture after picture till I reached the bottom and had to go watch Firefly.
Phil -
This was awesome to read. I like seeing how people react to stars, the study of celebrity crushes and stuff is something that’s always mystified me. I think I wish I was working in Directing just so I could sometimes work with really talented people even though I’m no actor myself. But it’s just a great article.
I know I’ve said this before but it bears repeating in light of this lovely article - I met Summer Glau during Dragon-Con ‘06. It was quite a long line to meet her, but I got to shake her hand, and as a matter of fact, I got that very same picture you showed at the bottom of this article autographed by her. (She had 5 pics to choose from but that was by far the sexiest. My roommate was too shy to choose it but I knew which one I wanted signed!)
She was very, very shy, and that threw me. Beside her, Alan Tudyk (Wash) was much more outgoing, though he was clearly exhausted - I finished the line at 4pm and I think he’d been at it since 8. I didn’t take up too much of his time, but he was a nice guy, very charming. Summer, on the other hand, was reserved, shy. She shook my hand with a somewhat sweaty palm (not that I minded), and asked who I was. I complimented on her work on The 4400, which I’d just finished watching at that time and had stuck in my mind as a very intersting character for her. (She was a mind-control type person and was very controlling, more confident than River Tam) She thanked me profusely, I think for just knowing that she wasn’t “River Tam” and limited to Serenity. She smiled shyly for my camera (I asked her to smile - my coworker actually wanted his picture taken with her, and he put his arm around her, and she jumped like a cricket - he took his hand away from her shoulder) and that was about it.
She was stunning in person, but also, very frail. I am 100% certain she’s worked out for Terminator, also maybe filled out naturally somewhat, but she was verrrry delicate. She reminded me of one of those glass flowers you see at glass shops, lovely, just don’t drop her.
Nowadays, she seems much happier, much more in control of her life. Maybe she’s out of debt and has a house or maybe she finally has a boyfriend (or girlfriend!) I don’t know, but her pictures nowadays seem so much more vibrant than that day. Or maybe she was just having a bad day that day, I dunno.
I like her new confidence. I think she will continue to rock the acting scene as long as producers and directors let her.
I thank you for your article again and hope you liked my contribution. This is shaping up really well, Phil
Soran… you got to touch Summer Glau. I’m jealous and we’re not friends anymore.
Just kidding - Anyhow, thanks for the great story! In a year or two, I might be movie down to Georgia and if I do I’ll be closer to Dragon Con… just thought I’d point that out.
Thanks for your story I really enjoyed it!
You are definetly not alone with your obsession…
Wow! One of the best articles I’ve ever read about her, great job. I agree with everything you say except for one detail…I loved the pilot of Terminator. I was ready for a laugh when I saw there would be a Terminator show…how cheesy is that? Glau blew me away and I had never laid eyes on her before. I do now! If you had to sum up 2008 with 1 or 2 words they would’ve been Summer Glau.
I understand you. This is my first celebrity crush in 34 years. This never, never happened to me. Even as a teenager. The girl has anything you could desire, innate beauty and cuteness, she looks modest and shy, she kicks butts in action scenes but when its time for drama my breath is taken away. I’m a hardened man that has never poured a tear even in real life when my father died a couple years ago. But for no reason several of her scenes just got my eyes wet, can’t explain why, it’s been a kind of epiphany for me. I’m not getting old and weak, in fact my life never went so good as it’s going now, there’s no breach in my armour.
So yes, i’m obsessed and i understand you.
I think it would be interesting to see Summer Glau portraying a villain on screen. She can pull it off. A talented actress like her, who knows
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