2020 is going to be a breakout year for Malia Baker, a talented actress who discovered her calling in life at a young age. She’s one of the five girls who will be introducing The Baby-Sitters Club to a new generation. It’s a privilege that Malia doesn’t take lightly, having grown up on the beloved book series. We caught up with her ahead of the release of the show to learn more about her and her deep connection with her character in The Baby-Sitters Club.
PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Malia: I’ve always been involved in the arts in some form. I’ve been dancing since I was two. My dance studio had an end-of-the-year recital that you could audition to be a lead character in, so I always did that. When I was around ten years old, I decided that I didn’t like the singing or dancing portion of it. I went into acting. I got cast as an extra in a movie, but they upgraded me to a speaking role because one of the girls had to go home with pink eye. I was super stoked. [laughs] I thought it was going to be my big break. It wasn’t. [laughs] But that’s how I finally discovered my love and passion for acting.
PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Malia: It was when I was on set for A Million Little Things. One of the main actors was someone who inspired me. He was so kind and welcoming. He came up to me and said that I had talent and that I was really good at acting. That lifted my spirits and made me want to continue pursuing this career.
PC: You’re going to be starring in the upcoming revival of The Baby-Sitters Club. Tell us about the series, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Malia: The series is about five girls who come together and they form the Baby-Sitters Club, which becomes quite the business. The girls face challenges as individuals and as a group, but they always seem to overcome those obstacles together with a very strong friendship on their side.
Mary Anne, the character that I play, is the secretary of the Baby-Sitters Club. She’s shy, warmhearted, funny without even knowing that she is. She’s a leader in her own way, and she’s really accepting and has a warm nature.
I’ve known about The Baby-Sitters Club since I was eight years old. I’ve been in love with them ever since I read them for the first time, as many of the people who read the books are. That was a big reason I wanted to do this. I also really gravitated towards Mary Anne while reading the books. I found that I related to her the most, as many people do, because she’s the shy person who comes out of her shell. That’s something to look up to, especially when you’re younger reading these books.
PC: Did you feel any pressure heading into this project, given the fact that you’re a fan of this series and you’re introducing it to a new generation?
Malia: I did feel a little bit of pressure because this book series has such a huge fan base. The Baby-Sitters Club is huge! I felt that pressure, but I used the pressure to keep myself in check. I want to bring this series to a whole new generation like the past generations did, like my mom’s generation. She loved The Baby-Sitters Club. I feel that people will be excited to share this with their kids.
PC: How similar or different is the series with the books?
Malia: The themes are timeless. We put a contemporary spin on them, so they’re more relatable to what kids and adults are facing today. It’s going to make it even more natural to watch because people will be like, “That happened to me!” or “That happened to my friend!” One of the greatest things about The Baby-Sitters Club is that you can relate to these stories and to at least one of these girls.
PC: What can you tease about Mary Anne’s arc in Season 1?
Malia: Mary Anne’s arc in the first season is pretty crazy. She starts out with pigtail braids and baby clothes. Her room is pretty much a nursery. It looks like a three-year-old girl. I remember being on set walking in for the first day. I was like, “Oh my gosh! This is pretty insane. This is exactly how I pictured it in my head.” But that’s where she starts. She finally comes out of her shell by using her voice for others, which I find really inspiring. I loved doing that episode. I can’t wait for people to see it and what they think about it. By the end of the series, she comes out of her shell. She’s fully confident in her own self. She becomes a leader in her own way. She’s confident and comfortable with herself.
PC: How did you and the rest of the cast build your bond?
Malia: It’s pretty crazy! At the final audition, we were told that we were the cast of The Baby-Sitters Club, which is rare. But while we were there, we gravitated towards each other. We picked each other before they told us! We were all sitting next to each other and we were talking. We even have pictures of it. I thought it was pretty weird. So after that, we exchanged phone numbers, emails, and everything we could so that we stay in touch until we started filming. We were FaceTiming and texting. When we got to set, everything clicked.
PC: This is a breakout TV role for you. Did anything surprise you about the experience? What was the biggest takeaway?
Malia: This series is such a passion project. I feel honored to be working on the series and playing a character like Mary Anne. It’s iconic. The biggest takeaway is that I am very, very passionate about acting. I love it and I want to continue forward doing this. It was pretty crazy because I had never had anyone on set that really knew my name or was interested in getting to know me, but everyone on this set knew my name! I was fangirling because everyone knew my name. I think that the biggest takeaway would have to be just truly understanding and getting to know this art in a different form that I hadn’t done before.
PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Malia: My mom and I are watching Dawson’s Creek right now. It’s interesting to watch. We’re like, “That would never happen today!”
PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Malia: I love stop motion. I really admire Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes Anderson. I love that book and movie. Growing up, I watched it all the time. I actually just watched it again with my family because my mom and my sister hadn’t seen it. I think I cried multiple times.
PC: Favorite book?
Malia: One Crazy Summer by Williams-Garcia. I also really enjoy The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
PC: Favorite play or musical?
Malia: Hamilton
PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Malia: Honestly, my music taste goes all over the place. I go from Bob Marley to Fleetwood Mac to Frank Sinatra. It’s kind of crazy, but I think what people would be most surprised to know is that I’m a fan of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
PC: Hidden talent?
Malia: I’m a pretty good baker. I mean, I can make macaroons pretty easy. Nothing’s a super-challenging thing in the kitchen.
To keep up with Malia, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Binge-watch Season 1 of The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix today.
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