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Who is Malina Weissman?
Malina Weissman is an American actress and model, born on 12 March 2003, in New York City, USA. She is perhaps known best for her portrayal of Violet Baudelaire in the Netflix series “A Series of Unfortunate Events” (2017-2019), and her role as the young April O’Neil in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2014). In addition to her acting credits, Malina also has an impressive modeling career, having worked for major brands like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.
Early Life and Education
Malina comes from a diverse ethnic background, with her mother being of German and Palestinian descent, and her father being Romanian. She has an older sister, Ayla D’lyla, who is an indie pop singer.
Malina’s interest in acting and modeling was sparked during her childhood. She began modeling and appearing in commercials when she was just eight years old.
Despite getting her start in the industry at an early age, Malina didn’t put her education aside. In 2021, she matriculated from Professional Performing Arts High School in New York City. She hasn’t enrolled at a college, however, focusing on her work as a model and actress.
Acting career
Malina made her acting debut in 2014, when she played a supporting role in the action adventure comedy “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, directed by Jonathan Liebesman, and based on the popular cartoon series of the same name. In the film, Malina played the role of young April O’Neil, alongside Megan Fox, who played the older version of the character.
In 2016, she appeared in the award-winning film “Thirsty”, a biographical drama about the revered drag queen Thirsty Burlington. In the same year, she displayed her versatility in the family comedy “Nine Lives”, in which she starred as Rebecca Brand alongside Hollywood heavyweights Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Garner. Malina’s performance was praised by the critics, further enhancing her reputation in the film industry.
Melissa with Malina Weissman, the first actress to play young Kara Zor'El in season 1 and 2. https://t.co/EYWRAyz2WX
— AUSXIP Supergirl (@AUSXIPSupergirl) June 25, 2021
Parallel to her movie roles, Malina found success in the realm of television, securing roles that allowed her to further explore and expand her acting prowess. Her television journey began in 2015 with the popular CBS superhero series “Supergirl”, in which she played the younger version of the titular character, Kara Zor-El. Also in 2015, Malina appeared in two episodes of the Hulu sitcom, “Difficult People”, which starred Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner.
However, it was her role as Violet in the Netflix series “A Series of Unfortunate Events” that marked a turning point in her career. The show is based on the eponymous series of novels by Lemony Snicket, the pseudonym of American author Daniel Handler. It premiered on 13 January 2017, and ran for three seasons until 1 January 2019.
The story follows the Baudelaire orphans – Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – after their parents die in a mysterious fire. The eldest Baudelaire child, Violet, is an inventor, Klaus is an avid reader with a vast knowledge base, and their infant sister Sunny has unusually strong teeth. The series narrates the unfortunate and strange series of events that the children encounter while they’re pursued by the malevolent Count Olaf, who is after their enormous inheritance.
One distinctive feature of the show is its consistent breaking of the fourth wall. The series’ narrator, Lemony Snicket (played by Patrick Warburton), often addresses the audience directly, providing backstory, commentary, and warnings of the dismal events to come, emphasizing the series’ darkly comedic and surreal tone. In 2019, the cast was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Ensemble Performance.
More recently, in 2022, Malina appeared in an episode of the horror drama series “Evil”, starring Katja Herbers and Mike Colter.
In 2024, Malina is set to play one of the lead roles in the upcoming horror movie “The Hermit”, written by William Walkerley and directed by Salavtore Sclafani. The film will follow a pair of teenagers (played by Malina and Anthony Turpel), who find themselves at odds with a cannibal farmer (Lou Ferrigno) during a vacation in the woods.
Modeling Career
Even before Malina stepped into the world of acting, she had already found success with her modeling career. Her journey began at an early age, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was also a model.
Discovered by a talent agency when she was just eight years old, Malina has modeled for some of the most renowned brands in the fashion industry, including Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Levi’s and H&M among others. Her versatile looks, combined with her professionalism, made her a sought-after model in the industry.
Despite her transition into acting, Malina continues to model, balancing both careers with grace and poise. She uses her platform to promote body positivity and mental health awareness, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with oneself in an industry often criticized for its unrealistic beauty standards.
Love Life and Relationships
Despite being in the public eye, Malina has maintained a private personal life, thus there isn’t a lot of information available about her relationships. At just 20, she is primarily focused on her career. In her interviews, she has frequently mentioned the importance of family and friends, hinting at a strong support system away from the spotlight.
She’s rumored to be dating fellow model and social media star Finn Doering, known for his collaborations with fashion brands such as Palm Angels and Kith.
Hobbies and Interesting Facts
When not in front of the camera, Malina enjoys exploring various hobbies. She’s a passionate photographer, often sharing her work on her social media accounts. She also enjoys traveling, reading, and just spending time with her family and friends.
Interestingly, Malina is multilingual, and speaks English, Spanish and German fluently. She attributes this to her family background and her upbringing in multicultural New York City.
Malina is very popular on social media, with her Instagram account numbering close to a million followers, while her TikTok channel has more than 600,000 followers and over nine million likes.
Net Worth
With an impressive acting and modeling career at such a young age, Malina has amassed considerable wealth. As of July 2023, her estimated net worth stands at around $6 million; this includes her earnings from acting roles, modeling assignments, brand endorsements, and other ventures.
