After small and generally unremarkable roles in such productions as the Disney Channel madeforcable movie Return to Halloweentown American actress Summer Bishil revealed the extent of her abilities via a complex demanding and multifaceted lead portrayal in the contemporary drama Towelhead 2007 The film observes the tumultuous events that befall a young ArabAmerican teen on the eve of the US invasion of Iraq heading into the Gulf War including confrontations with racism hypocrisy and mistrust Years later she was chosen to star in the fantasy adventure film The Last Airbender