Malia Simphiwe Baker (born December 18, 2006) is a Botswana-born Canadian actress. She is best known for her roles as Mary Anne Spier in the streaming series The Baby-Sitters Club, Gabby Lewis in the television series Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and Chloe Charming in the film Descendants: The Rise of Red and its sequel Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.
She is also starred in What We Hide and Thena in 2025 and Hair of the Bear in 2026.
Early life Malia Baker was born in Gaborone, Botswana, to a Motswana father and white Jewish-Canadian mother. She moved to Canada when she was 2 and a half years old. She also has a younger sister, Ivory Baker.
Career 2018–2019: Beginnings Baker made her acting debut in Hope at Christmas, a TV movie in which she was uncredited. She then had her first TV role in an episode of ABC's A Million Little Things. In 2019, she also featured in an episode of The CW's The Flash, as well as appearing in an episode of The Twilight Zone.
2020–present: Breakthrough In 2020, Baker starred in season 1 of The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix, as Mary Anne Spier. She returned to the role in the second season of the show in 2021, before its cancellation. She also featured in season 2 of Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark?s second revival series. Baker also featured in the Lifetime TV movie Caught in His Web. She was then cast in the Disney+ film Descendants: The Rise of Red, as well as the Miramax dramedy Harvest Moon. She was also cast in Spider & Jessie, later retitled as What We Hide, and in the drama Thena. Baker starred in the indie drama Hair of the Bear, which she was also an executive producer.
She defended Catherine Hernandez's novel Scarborough in the 2022 edition of Canada Reads.
Filmography
Film
+ Year Title Role Notes Ref(s) 2018 Hope at Christmas Malia Weir Uncredited role 2022 Caught in His Web Olivia 2024 Descendants: The Rise of RedChloe Charming Wickedly Sweet: A Descendants Short Story Short film; Voice role 2025 Shuffle of Love: A Descendants Short Story Short film What We Hide Alexis 12 Hours Jasmine Short film 2026 Hair of the Bear Tori Also executive producer Descendants: Wicked Wonderland Chloe Charming BellaPost-production Lotus
Television +YearTitleRoleNotesRef(s)2019A Million Little ThingsLittle GirlEpisode: "Someday" The FlashAlice BolenEpisode: "Time Bomb" The Twilight ZoneYoung AnnaEpisode: "Blurryman"2020–2021The Baby-Sitters ClubMary Anne SpierMain role2021Are You Afraid of the Dark?Gabby Lewis
Video games +YearTitleRoleNotesRef(s)2023Avatar: Frontiers of PandoraWoaiVoiceAhari
Discography Albums Soundtrack albums Title Album details Descendants: The Rise of Red Released: July 12, 2024 Label: Walt Disney Records Format: CD, Digital download Descendants: Wicked Wonderland Released: July 17, 2026 Label: Walt Disney Records Format: CD, Digital download
Other charted songs TitleYearAlbum "Love Ain't It"2024Descendants: The Rise of Red "Fight of Our Lives" "Life Is Sweeter" "Get Your Hands Dirty" "Life Is Sweeter (Remix)"
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Work ResultRef.Children's and Family Emmy Awards2022Outstanding Younger PerformerThe Baby-Sitters ClubNATAS ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS FOR FIRST ANNUAL CHILDREN’S & FAMILY EMMYS - The Emmys2022 Children's & Family Emmys: Full List of Nominations – The Hollywood ReporterNetflix Leads First-Ever Children's & Family Emmys Nominations Tally – VarietyKids' Choice Awards2022Favorite Female TV Star (Kids)The Baby-Sitters Club / Are You Afraid of the Dark?Leo Awards2022Youth PerformanceThe Baby-Sitters Club2026Best Lead PerformanceHair of the Bear
References
External links