Old movies can be a tough sell to younger viewers. But Alicia Malone has made these classic gems fresh again with her infectious energy and vast knowledge of films.
Ready to hear how Alicia Malone turned her movie obsession into a dream career? Grab your popcorn and LFG (Learn, Film Geeks)!
Who Is Alicia Malone?
Alicia Malone (born September 4, 1981) is a film expert, author, and journalist. If you’re a true-blooded cinephile, you might recognize her as a mainstay on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), a commercial-free channel on cable TV.
With her quick wit and knack for pop culture references, she can make even the oldest, most obscure flick sound relevant and exciting to young audiences.
Born and raised on a farm in Canberra, Australia, she was a world away from the glitter of Hollywood. Yet, she developed a deep-rooted love of film, becoming as much a part of her as her signature red hair.
This early obsession was a genuine curiosity of the art form. While other kids her age were hanging out at the mall, she was glued to the TV, devouring everything from Old Hollywood to foreign art house films.
It was clear from the start that her destiny was intertwined with the silver screen.
Education and Early Career
After high school, Alicia packed her bags and moved to Sydney to pursue her dream of a television career.
She managed to snag a scholarship to learn all about television at a technical college. While studying, she worked at a video rental store, where she put her film knowledge to good use.
Alicia Malone’s life photos.
Image source: Google
With the help of a friend, she landed a job as a teleprompter operator at HSV-7, the home of AFL coverage. Over the next six years, she took various behind-the-scenes roles within the network.
Then, she moved on to Movie Network Channels, where her on-screen potential began to shine. There, she covered live red-carpet events and film-related programs like “Premiere” and “Movie Juice.”
From Australia to Holywood
With a suitcase filled with hope and a journal brimming with aspirations, she traded the familiar for the unknown. In 2010, she moved to Los Angeles with barely a penny and no connections.
In the US, she started doing press junkets for the Australian morning news “Today” and became known for hugging celebrities during interviews.
Alicia’s knowledge and passion for film led her to become a correspondent for Fandango, where she created and hosted the web series “Indie Movie Guide.”
She covered major film festivals like Cannes and Sundance, which must have been an incredible experience for a film geek.
Alicia Malone was at the Cannes Film Festival in Paris, France in 2017.
Image source: Google
All the while, she had her eyes on the ultimate prize: a spot on TCM.
TCM Dreams Come True and Other Projects
Alicia Malone found her connection to TCM through the co-founder of the online platform Popcorn Talk, where Alicia co-hosted the podcast “Profiles with Malone and Mantz.” Her boss knew the right people at TCM and learned about her ultimate goal.
But Alicia didn’t jump in right away. She spent a year polishing her skills, making sure she got the goods before auditioning.
In 2016, TCM hired her to make introductions for its film streaming service Filmstruck. When that ended, she was made a full-time host on the main channel.
Alicia Malone and her co-host at TCM, Dave Karger.
Image source: Google
Alicia was a perfect fit—she looked the part and talked the talk. Since then, she has taken on hosting roles for shows like “Essentials Jr.” and “Second Looks.”
Championing Women in Film
Alicia is a vocal advocate for gender equality. In 2020, she co-hosted a TCM series called “Women Make Film” to talk about the contributions of female filmmakers in the history of cinema.
She’s given TEDx talks on the underrepresentation of women in the film industry and authored several books on the subject, including:
- Backwards and in Heels
- The Female Gaze
- Girls on Film: Lessons from a Life of Watching Women in Movies
Personal Life
Alicia Malone likes to keep her private life pretty low-key, but we do know she’s enjoying it.
Fun fact: She once joked about Jake Gyllenhaal from “Donnie Darko” being her dream guy. (Can’t blame her!)
Jake Gyllenhaal’s stills in ”Donnie Darko”.
Image source: Pinterest
An unexpected turn in her life came during the pandemic. A work trip in Maine to film content for TCM made her fall in love with the idyllic countryside. She didn’t wait a month before buying a permanent home there.
Once settled, she joined the historic Strand Theatre’s board of directors, proving her dedication to the film industry.
Wrapping Up
Alicia Malone is living proof that dreams do come true, even if that dream is talking about old movies for a living!
You can catch her hosting the Sunday afternoon and Tuesday primetime lineups on TCM. With her smarts and charm, I can’t see why you won’t get hooked.
So, next time you’re channel surfing, keep an eye out for her.
