If you grew up in the 2010s, you probably remember the absolute chokehold the American Girl "Girl of the Year" movies had on everyone. We had McKenna jumping over bars and Isabelle dancing in New York, but there was something about the Albuquerque desert and those hot air balloons that made Saige Paints the Sky feel a bit different. It wasn't just about a doll; it was this weirdly high-stakes story about school budget cuts and a grandmother losing her spark.
People still look up the saige paints the sky actors today because, honestly, the cast was a strange mix. You had literal Hollywood royalty like Jane Seymour sharing scenes with kids who had never been on a movie set before. Most of those kids didn't just stay in the "American Girl" bubble, either. One went on to lead a massive Netflix franchise, one became a finance whiz in New York, and another is currently starring in one of the most anticipated TV spin-offs of 2026.
The Lead: Sidney Fullmer’s Pivot to Wall Street
Sidney Fullmer was the face of Saige Copeland. She had the red hair, the Southwestern vibes, and that specific "shy but determined" energy that the role needed. After the movie dropped in 2013, everyone assumed she’d be the next big Nickelodeon or Disney star. She did a few things—a bit of voice work and a guest spot on Sidney to the Max—but then she basically vanished from the industry.
It turns out she chose a completely different "career canvas."
Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing. Instead of chasing the Hollywood grind, Fullmer headed to New York City. She didn't just move there to "find herself"—she went to work. As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, she has been working as a financial analyst. She actually leaned into the whole "Saige" nostalgia recently by dressing up as her own character for Halloween, which sent the American Girl fandom into a total frenzy. It’s wild to think that the girl who was fighting to save the arts program is now probably looking at spreadsheets in a skyscraper.
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Mika Abdalla: From Dylan to Suits LA
If you watch the movie now, you’ll see Dylan Patterson—the girl who was kinda-sorta the "new best friend" causing all the drama. That was Mika Abdalla. Out of all the saige paints the sky actors, Mika is the one who really stayed in the game and leveled up.
Most people recognize her as the lead of Project Mc² on Netflix, where she played Mckeyla McAlister for six seasons. But 2024 and 2025 were huge for her. She showed up in the film Snack Shack and the HBO Max series The Pitt.
The big news for 2026? She’s been cast as Sierra Carson in Suits LA. Yeah, the Suits spin-off. It’s a massive jump from being the girl who liked horses and caused middle-school friendship friction to playing a role in a high-stakes legal drama universe. She’s also set to lead the Amazon series Off Campus, so her face is going to be everywhere this year.
Jane Seymour and the "Dr. Quinn" Connection
Having Jane Seymour play Mimi (the grandmother) was a massive flex for a direct-to-video movie. At the time, Jane actually said that playing Mimi reminded her of her days on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. She loved the idea of a woman who was a mentor and an artist, but also someone who had to deal with a physical injury that stole her passion.
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Seymour hasn't slowed down since 2013. She’s been in The Kominsky Method, Harry Wild, and about a dozen other things. She’s the veteran presence that gave the movie its actual emotional weight. Without her, it might have just been a commercial for a doll, but she made that "save the arts" plot feel like it actually mattered.
The Rest of the Crew: Where Are They Now?
You’ve got a few other familiar faces if you look closely.
Kerr Smith played Saige’s dad, David Copeland. If you were a teen in the 90s, you knew him as Jack McPhee from Dawson's Creek. Since the movie, he’s been a staple in the "CW-verse," appearing in The Fosters and playing the somewhat terrifying Principal Honey in Riverdale. He’s one of those actors who is basically the "glue" of any production he's in.
Then there’s Alana Gordillo, who played Gabi Peña. Gabi was the "new girl" who actually turned out to be a great friend. Alana didn’t stay in the acting spotlight as much as Mika, but she’s remembered fondly by the fanbase for being the first real representation many girls saw of themselves in the American Girl movie universe.
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The Production Impact
- Director: Vince Marcello (who later went on to direct The Kissing Booth trilogy for Netflix—talk about a career shift).
- Writer: Jessica O'Toole and Amy Rardin (they went on to write for the Charmed reboot).
- Location: Filmed entirely in New Mexico, which gave the movie that authentic, dusty, artistic vibe that sets it apart from the more "polished" American Girl films.
Why We’re Still Talking About This Cast
The reason the search for saige paints the sky actors stays high is because this movie hit right at the peak of the "tween" era. It wasn't just a movie; it was a vibe. It taught kids about school board meetings, the importance of public funding for the arts, and how to handle it when your best friend starts hanging out with someone else.
In 2026, we’re seeing a massive wave of nostalgia for this specific era. With Mika Abdalla hitting the big leagues and Sidney Fullmer living a "normal" successful life in NYC, the cast represents two very different paths people take after being child stars.
If you're looking to revisit the world of Saige Copeland, you should check out the "Girl of the Year" retrospectives on YouTube. Many fans have spent the last year documenting exactly how these movies influenced a generation of young artists. You can also find most of the cast on Instagram—Mika is very active, while Sidney keeps things a bit more private, reflecting her move away from the Hollywood spotlight.
Start by looking up Mika Abdalla’s upcoming projects if you want to see how far the "Dylan" of the group has come; it's the most direct way to see the legacy of this cast in modern TV.