The Baby-Sitters Club's Malia Baker Reflects on Her Emotional Last Day Filming Season 2

In our Q&A series Last Call, we get down to the bottom of every last thing with some of our favorite celebs – from the last time they were starstruck to the last song they listened to. This week, Malia Baker takes our call.

Malia Baker’s only been in the acting game since 2018, but the 14-year-old actress quickly stole our hearts as soft-spoken Mary Anne Spier on Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club – based on the book series of the same name – which returned for a second season on Oct. 11. Fans of the series will appreciate the progression of Mary Anne’s character arc in season two, which shows the secretary of the BSC come into her own. It’s the kind of reboot that will make any ’90s kid proud. “We’re really just trying to do our best to honour [Ann M. Martin’s] books and the original TV series while making it relatable for young people watching today,” Malia told POPSUGAR. “This season, we were able to explore different storylines and play around with what we could incorporate from our own lives.”

While BSC hasn’t officially been renewed for season three, there are lots of projects vying for Malia’s attention these days. Last month, she hosted the fourth annual #GirlHero Awards, a celebration of the next generation of women leaders. She’s also starring in Lifetime’s Caught in His Web, produced by Whoopi Goldberg, which is set to premiere in 2022. Oh, and the Botswana-born teenager recently joined the cast of Paul Bettany’s Harvest Moon. In other words, she’s booked and busy. “I didn’t think I’d be here in this short of a time. I’ve always looked older than my actual age, so I was told that there would be a short period when I wouldn’t be working,” she explained. “And I totally understood that, but so many new opportunities are coming my way. It’s been a remarkable journey that I would not want to miss out on for sure.”

Read more of Malia’s Last Call interview ahead.

What was the last day of filming season two of BSC like?

Tears, tears, and more tears! In the last scene we filmed, [our characters] are having this runway fashion moment, so we’re all dressed up and the last moment was a group hug. That’s how we ended season one as well, so it was definitely cry-worthy. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Who is the last BSC costar you texted?

Probably Shay [Rudolph] or Momo [Tamada].

What is the last show you binge-watched?

New Girl; it’s one of my favourites so I’ve rewatched it tons of times.

When is the last time you were starstruck?

This morning [Oct. 11], I had a table read for a new film that’s coming out soon . . . I was in complete awe. I tried to remain as professional as possible, but I just said, “I love your work. So excited to be doing this with you.” I got a hug!

What is the last photo that’s on your camera roll?

It’s me in the car. My younger sister’s mad at me for stealing her jeans, so she wanted to know where I was, and my response was just a selfie with a straight deadpan face. We just finally fit into each other’s clothes, and we’ve been using it to our advantage.

What is the last thing you did for self-care?

Just a few minutes ago, I came into my apartment with some new vinyl records for my collection. I got a David Bowie one, a John Coltrane one, and a T. Rex one. So that’s kind of a treat to myself.

What is the last song you listened to?

“Liquid Smooth” by Mitski.

What is the last thing you ordered online?

It might’ve been pizza or sweatpants.

What is the last book you read?

The Darkroom by Marguerite Duras. It contains the script for her experimental film from the ’70s called Le Camion, but it’s also this intriguing manifesto. She shares very opinionated views on the film industry. That’s in my top five right now.

What is the last thing you typically do before bed?

I make sure that my alarm is set for the right time, because I can honestly sleep through it. I’ll have to do two alarms to make sure I’m up.

What is the last piece of advice you received that changed your life?

During season one of BSC, Mark Feuerstein, who plays [Kristy’s stepfather] Watson, told me, “If you’re not learning something new every day, then find something new to learn.”