Summer Glau was one of the most recognizable names in sci-fi and fantasy during the early 2010s, having made her mark on the scene with multiple cult-favorite shows and movies that were sadly cut too short.
She seemed to be poised for success with everything in front of her before abruptly drifting off to the stars almost halfway through the last decade. The good news is, it was on her terms.
Summer Glau hit the ground running early in her career, taking a small part in an episode of Angel before being cast in the short-lived but much-loved Firefly.
Though her days on the Serenity crew didn’t last nearly as long as anyone wished, it established her as a force to be reckoned with due to her portrayal of the mysterious River Tam.
While the show’s cancellation was an unfortunate reminder of Hollywood’s strange ways, Summer didn’t let it slow her down. Eventually, she would gain some closure for the character in Serenity, the feature-length follow-up.
Over the next decade, Glau cemented herself in the industry, making the starting rounds of crime-procedural guest spots and made-for-television movies like most emerging actors of the time.
It wasn’t until 2008 that she landed a role rivaling her time as River Tam- playing Cameron in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Along with a pre-Game of Thrones Lena Heady, Glau received praise for her role in the series, one of the earliest to try retconning a previous Terminator film.
Unfortunately, the show received similar treatment to Firefly and was canceled after two seasons.
Still determined to press on, Glau managed to star in several other niche shows with loving fan bases, including The Cape and Alphas.
Unfortunately, these were also canceled far too early, with The Cape even becoming a meta-joke of its own in Community.
Eventually, she was so iconic within geek fandom that it lead to a guest role on The Big Bang Theory- as herself!
What Happened To Summer Glau?
Gaining continued success in recurring roles such as Ravager in Arrow and even popping up in Castle with her former Serenity captain Nathan Fillion, Glau chose to step back from the spotlight in 2015 after the birth of her first daughter with now-husband Val Morrison.
The couple has since welcomed their second child in 2017 and were also officially married in the same year.
This Is What Summer Glau Is Doing Now
(photo: Fandom Spotlite)
Summer maintains that for now, she’s happy to continue working on her most rewarding project yet- being a mother.
Glau has said that she homeschools both of her children, and wants nothing more than to keep seeing to their further health and education.
She still makes time for fans though, frequently popping up at expos and conventions for appearances. One thing is for sure- she still appreciates her supporters twenty years after her breakthrough.
While she’s insisted there’s nothing in the works right now, Glau has made it known she would like to revisit some of her fan-favorite characters.
In a recent interview, the actress mentioned a desire to return as Cameron, picking up from where The Sarah Connor Chronicles left off over a decade ago and giving the character some closure.
Even though it’s not likely to happen, a follow-up wouldn’t be too much of a stretch by today’s Terminator standards.
The star is focused on the short term and her family for the moment, preferring to capture those small, fleeting moments before they soar away, like leaves on the wind.
Though she may not pop up onscreen again soon, fans can take solace that she’s living her best life in the meantime and only gaining more fans and support for her eventual return.
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