STEPPING INTO CINDERELLA’S SHOES: MALIA BAKER’S RISE IN 'DESCENDANTS

BY IRVIN RIVERA

PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA, FASHION STYLING: OTHTHAN BURNSIDE, MAKEUP: BOBBIE RILEY, HAIR: MILES JEFFRIES, DIGITECH: PHIL LIMPRASERTWONG, PHOTO ASST: ANDREW LOPEZ, LOCATON: GM STUDIO DTLA

Malia Baker has quickly established herself as a rising talent in the entertainment world, captivating audiences with her authenticity and versatility. From her early beginnings in the arts, nurtured by a creative family, Malia’s journey has been one of passion and determination. Reflecting on her path, she shares, “Growing up, I always knew my love for the arts.” Starting as a competitive dancer and moving into acting at just 11 years old, Malia’s breakout role as Mary Anne Spier in "The Baby-Sitters Club" not only earned her an Emmy nomination but solidified her place as a young actress to watch. “Without Mary Anne, I wouldn’t have continued in the industry,” she reveals, highlighting the pivotal nature of this role in her career.

Now, as she takes on the role of Chloe Charming in Disney+’s "Descendants: The Rise of Red," Malia continues to explore new dimensions of her craft. This role allows her to merge her love for music, dance, and acting in a way that feels both familiar and exhilarating. “What I love about relatable characters is that when I step into them, it’s like stepping into a version of myself,” she explains, showcasing her deep connection with Chloe. From mastering sword fighting to portraying the daughter of Cinderella, Malia embraced the challenges with the same enthusiasm that has characterized her career. Looking ahead, she’s not just focused on her next role, but on the positive impact she hopes to make. “I just hope to bring more good into the world,” she muses—a humble yet powerful goal for an actress who is already making her mark.

Malia, how are you? Congrats on your projects. You’ve had quite an impressive journey in the entertainment industry at such a young age. Can you tell us about your early life and what inspired you to become an actress?

Aw thank you so much. I’m doing good; I’m very grateful to be in the position I am right now. It’s been a journey, but growing up I’ve always known my love for the arts. I started very early as a competitive dancer. I loved music and played anything I could get my hands on growing up, which made my interest in musical theater become my reality. Then, at around 11 I found acting and have never looked back. I came from a very artistic family who have been my inspirations and biggest supporters, so as soon as I knew I wanted to commit to acting I was so lucky to have a family that made it possible.

Your breakout role as Mary Anne Spier in "The Baby-Sitters Club" garnered much attention and earned you a Children’s and Family Emmy nomination. What was the most rewarding aspect of playing this character?

That role was a dream come true for so many reasons. The first being that without Mary Anne I wouldn’t have continued in the industry. My mum gave me a deadline once I decided I wanted to act because we lived so far from where the auditions were held, and as a single mama, she’s a busy lady! If I booked something that would change a lot in one year I would be able to keep going, but if nothing came then it wasn’t meant to be. Almost a year to the day, Mary Anne happened, and I truly took that as a sign. The most rewarding moment so far has been seeing the impact it’s made on some kids’ lives in the period where they’re finding themselves. The amount of young Black girls who’ve told me how Mary Anne made them feel seen, or how my episode was what they personally went through, has been so overwhelming in the best of ways. It’s truly the biggest motivator to find and be a part of projects that mean something not only to me, but that also touch an audience right in the soft spots.

How has your background and upbringing influenced your acting career and the roles you choose?

I think without my upbringing and the efforts my parents made to shape me into who I am today, my life would look drastically different. Art was my foundation, it’s what I breathed without even being aware of it. I always joke but I truly do believe I think in music. My mum danced growing up, and is an incredible writer and creator that I pride myself in any similarity I get to hold as my badge of honor from her. I know everything I do about music from my dad; he wanted to have my sister and I in a family band type thing when we were younger haha. Obviously that didn’t go very far, but the effort was there! I went from drums to trumpet to guitar and piano, always holding a microphone, but never sharing it publicly. Descendants has been such a blessing in sharing that part of me even if it was scary at first. I love that I’ve been able to harness these skills passed down to me through my job, and I could not be more grateful for those who got me here.

Let’s talk about your latest role as Chloe Charming in "Descendants: The Rise of Red." How did you prepare to bring this character to life?

I think the writers did such an incredible job in crafting Chloe in our script that it truly wasn’t hard to bring her to life. What I love about relatable characters is that when I step into them it’s like stepping into a version of myself at some point in my life, which was the exact case with Chloe. Of course sword fighting was definitely something new to pick up, but that was one of the most fun challenges. In preparation for her I made a lot of playlists and really tried to envision a normal day in the life as Cinderella’s daughter. That came with training for a month before we filmed so I could have the endurance of her athlete behaviour, and getting back to my singing and dancing routes which was so much fun.

"Descendants: The Rise of Red" has a rich and dynamic storyline. How did you connect with Chloe Charming on a personal level?

Chloe feels like a reflection of a lot of kids' lives growing up in the time where they’re supposed to be finding themselves. Figuring out her own morals and learning that there’s always gray space in between what you think is right or wrong. I also think her dynamic with Red emphasizes a message that personally I think we can all pull from, that our differences aren’t as important as a shared goal. In our case that looks like wanting to go back to our own timeline and save our mothers, but I think we can all relate to that on some level to whatever is going on personally.

Can you share any memorable moments or experiences from the set of "Descendants: The Rise of Red"?

One of the most memorable times on set to me was meeting my cast mates for the first time. We were all getting ready for our table read and it would be the first time seeing everybody in person. I remember hugging everybody so tight and genuinely loving everyone involved, knowing that this is the dream team for the next few years!

Fashion seems to be a significant interest of yours, as evident from your Instagram posts. How would you describe your personal style, and how does it reflect your personality?

It’s so funny I feel like fashion has been something I’ve only stepped into recently, but looking back playing dress up is honestly where it started haha; it’s secretly always been here! I think I’d describe my own style as classic and versatile. Maybe that’s a good description of me too lol. I love trying new things, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong about knowing what works best and sticking to it.

You’re involved in various social causes and have a substantial following on social media. How do you use your platform to advocate for issues you care about?

I love using my platform for things I actually care about. I have been blessed in becoming a part of incredible communities like She’s The First whom I’m a global ambassador for, and the UN’s GirlUp where I’m a global champion. Communities like these have helped find my voice in ways I would have never imagined as the shy girl scared to speak up I was when I found them. Using my platform to elevate voices that should be heard, speaking to issues and causes that I know should be valued on a greater scale feels only natural having these many eyes on me at this period of my life.

What has been your most significant learning experience in your acting career so far?

I think the most significant learning experience in the industry so far has been patience is key. I always thought looking from the outside in that an actor’s life that things come out as soon as they’re filmed, and as soon as someone has a great idea it’s shown to the world immediately, but that’s not entirely the case. The amount of people involved in making a single idea become a film is extraordinary, and I’ve found such a deep respect and admiration to those that make our entertainment as magical as it is. The patience and precision that comes with each of these jobs, and creating things of your own is something I’ll always be trying to master.

You’ve worked with industry veterans like Paul Bettany in "Harvest Moon" and Brandy in “Descendants: The Rise of Red." What insights or advice have you gained from working with such experienced actors?

Working with people I genuinely admire has been unreal, I seriously have had to pinch myself while working day to day. The biggest take away that seems to be a recurring theme with these legends is to stay true to yourself. Have your support system and team you can rely on to stay grounded, and from there you’ll never be able to forget who you are. I feel very lucky in the team and support system I have and will continuously remember that message as I’m able to keep working.

How do you approach building a new character from the ground up, and what is your creative process like?

It’s honestly one of my favorite things because there are no expectations. You get to have full creativity in creating this human that’s only ever existed on a page which is such a crazy concept. My go-tos when creating someone has been journaling like them for a few weeks to get in the mindset, creating Pinterest boards to visualize their reality and talking with my castmates to hear what they envision for their character. I think that one is honestly the most helpful for balancing and finding the dynamic with other characters makes your own feel that much more real.

You’re set to star in the indie drama "Hair of the Bear" as Tori, which you’re also executive producing. What drew you to this role, and what are your aspirations for this project?

This role holds such a special place in my heart. Tori and I have lived through a lot of the same things personally, which I think made me feel really attached to her from the first time I read her. There was also something so exciting about filming an action movie and the physical challenges that come with that, which was so hard, but so fun to film. I love being able to challenge myself and grow with my projects over time. I also loved being able to have my voice heard as an executive producer, as it really allowed my eyes to open to the endless possibilities of this industry and the stories that are told. I am so grateful for the experience and so proud of what the team created, I can’t wait for you all to see it!

What legacy do you hope to leave through your work in the entertainment industry and beyond?

Phew, big question, I don’t even know if I’m able to fully answer it! I just hope that people smile and look fondly at my time in the industry. I hope to simply bring more good in the world; however that looks like, I will be happy.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why? 

I would love to be The Little Prince. It’s my all time favorite so maybe that’s a little too biased, but oh well. It’s a story that opens any story, and that was the writing that made me want to be an artist and create something. I hope to one day inspire others like that in such a simple form… be the rose to someone’s little Prince or vice versa.