You may recognize Malia Baker as a sensitive and shy teen babysitter, or as the blue-haired daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming. But in Hair of the Bear, in theatres March 6, she’s venturing into much darker territory—playing a teenager fighting for her life in a deadly game of cat and mouse.  

Directed by Alexandre Trudeau (Justin Trudeau’s brother) and James McLellan, Hair of the Bear is a survivalist thriller film following Tori (Baker), an anxious teen who is sent to live with her grandfather in the remote, frozen wilderness. When a lethal threat emerges, she’s forced to tap into her primal instinct to survive.  As Tori fights for her life, she also embarks on an emotional journey of visceral fear, deep anguish, and ultimately, empowerment. 

At only 19 years old, the Vancouver-based actress has already made a name for herself in TV and film. Her breakout role was in the beloved Netflix adaptation of The Babysitter’s Club, where she played BSC secretary Mary-Anne Spier. You may also recognize her as Princess Chloe Charming in Descendants: The Rise of Red, and Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, coming this summer, and from the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide concert tour. 

In Hair of the Bear, Baker ups the stakes—not only with a more emotionally and physically demanding role, but also with her first experience as an executive producer. We caught up with Baker during her visit to Toronto ahead of Hair of the Bear’s release to discuss how she prepared for the intensity of the role, shooting in a Manitoba winter, and what her previous characters would think of Tori. 

Hair of the Bear is a much darker film than some of your previous projects. What made you want to take on this role?

The character Tori really drew me in. There’s something so relatable and something so real about the stages that she goes through in this film. She goes through all these intense emotions. I always joke with the directors, like, “You guys hated this character. You put her through literally everything!” And I think with that, I was able to play in ways that I hadn’t been able to before. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

As you said, there are so many intense emotions that Tori goes through, but this is also a very physically demanding role. How did you prepare for both the physical and emotional intensity?

I remember running a lot before I went and filmed, because I was not much of a runner. I got a C- in gym. And then reading the script, like, oh, now she’s sprinting away for her life. I really wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it. So I ran for a few months beforehand, and was in the gym, I tried to do the cold plunges to get myself prepared for a Winnipeg winter (WinterPeg, as they call it). The mentality was there. I was driven enough to be like, “No, it’s gonna be okay. It’s gonna be fine.” 

And in terms of the emotional stuff, I remember I read a lot of my journal entries from when I was younger, or when I felt like I was going through something similar to Tori. I journaled very, very aptly, and so going back into those and grasping on and remembering those feelings brought it all to the surface, which hopefully translated.

The directors have said the film is inspired by how many teens they’ve seen struggle with anxiety. What do you think viewers will take from the emotional journey that Tori goes through?

I think it’s honestly a coming-of-age story. The way that Tori goes about her own emotional journey and her arc of becoming herself or becoming a bear in a way, I think is really, really special. I think that we can all relate to that as an audience in some aspect or another…finding your bear through it all. When I stepped away from Tori a little bit, I was like, “Oh my gosh, thank you. You helped me.”

Hair of the Bear is also your first executive producer credit—congratulations! What was it like to step into that role for the first time?

It was everything I dreamed of, and more. I’ve been obsessed with film since I was a tot so to see it from the other lens of, okay, I’m not on camera right now, and this isn’t my scene, but I’m still here today, and I still want to show up. Or even the pre-production—now I get to find out which locations we’re able to use. Now I get to see how the whole logistical side of it works. Juliette, our main producer on the film, she really took me under her wing in terms of learning the whole ropes of it all. And I am so, so appreciative of her for that. It’s really sparked a sort of like, “Oh my gosh, this is what I want to do.” And I think I’ve just fallen in love with it over the process. 

Speaking of locations, Hair of the Bear was filmed in Manitoba during the winter. How did you manage to shoot in that intense cold?

How did we manage to do that? It was really, really cold to say the least. I think we hit around -40°C at some point. The opening scene, and the ending shot of Tori coming up to the camera and then kind of going away—that was our last day on the job. And I remember, at the top of the day, they’re like, “Apparently, we’re gonna get a blizzard today.” As we were on this frozen lake! I was like, “Oh, awesome.” With that, I think it was just the mental preparedness that got me through. And HotShotz, I gotta give the credit to HotShotz. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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If your characters, Mary Anne and Chloe, met Tori, what would they think of her?

I think Mary Anne would think, “Wow, this girl’s going through it. Let’s just be there for her.” I think she’d be the type of friend that’d be knocking on her door constantly and being kind of like Grandpa in the movie, like, “Hey, are you good? I just want to make sure you’re okay.” I think Chloe, on the other hand, would be like…”I don’t know about this one. I don’t know. She’s gonna have to prove herself.” I’d be so interested for that trio to make a little appearance. That’d be so much fun. 

Not too long ago, you wrapped up the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide tour. How do you feel looking back on that experience?

Oh my gosh. I mean, it’s wild. We just had the live version of the concert tour released on Disney+, and I watched it back, and it was insane. It was really wild to step back into because it was such a go, go, go moment while we were doing it. We were doing sometimes three shows in a row, and then you get a day off, and then three shows in a row, and they’re all in different places, so you’re sleeping on the bus while you’re getting to a new state. That’s jarring in its own sense. The last time I was in Toronto was when we were on tour, and I was walking through the streets, I remember I was so exhausted, but so happy to be back in Canada. I loved it. It was so much fun.

That tour was a new challenge for you, and this role in Hair of the Bear also expanded your horizons as an actor. Is there another challenge you want to take on next?

I’d love to fully produce a film. I think that’d be so cool. I’d love to direct something at some point in the future. In terms of acting, I miss shows, to be honest. The Babysitter’s Club was so much fun for that reason. I was reminiscing on it the other day. I was talking to Momo, who plays Claudia Kishi, and there was something so magical about coming back for another season and knowing I’m going to see these people again. Especially with that show, having it be The Babysitter’s Club and these girls that turned into my best friends, I think was so special. You create a bond like nothing else. As much as you can try to on a film, it’s really just three months, and then you’re over. I’d love to do, like a limited series or something. I think that’d be cool. Catch it in the future, let’s hope!

So you’re still close with The Babysitter’s Club girls?

Momo lives in Vancouver with me. We’re trying to be roommates in L.A. in the next few months. So if that tells you anything, we’ve all stayed in contact. The birthday messages go very, very long and very, very far. I really cheer on those girls, even from afar. I think they’re doing incredible things. They’ve worked so hard for themselves in their own personal lives and professionally. I’m just in awe constantly.

We love that! What’s next for you in 2026?

I’m really excited for the Descendants movie to release. It’s releasing this summer, and I’m stoked to see the audience’s reactions. I haven’t even seen the final cut yet, so I’m excited to see it too. But other than that, whatever floats into my life, I’d be really, really grateful for. We’ll see where this rowboat goes.

Hair of the Bear is in select Canadian theatres, including Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre, starting March 6.