Every Movie and TV Show Starring Dafne Keen

Dafne Keen is a prominent Spanish-British actress who rose to global fame as a child star and has since transitioned into high-profile roles in some of the largest entertainment franchises in the world, including Marvel and Star Wars. Her career is characterized by a unique ability to convey intense emotion and physicality, often portraying resilient and complex characters across genres ranging from gritty superhero dramas to high-fantasy epics.

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the movies and television shows featuring Dafne Keen, including detailed insights into her roles and the impact of these projects.

Quick Overview of Dafne Keen’s Major Credits

Feature Films Starring Dafne Keen

Dafne Keen’s cinematic career began with one of the most critically acclaimed superhero films of all time and has continued to evolve within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and independent cinema.

Logan (2017)

In 2017, Dafne Keen made her cinematic debut in Logan, the final chapter of the Wolverine trilogy within the X-Men film universe. At just eleven years old, she was cast as Laura, also known as X-23, the biological daughter and clone of James "Logan" Howlett.

The film is set in a bleak future where mutants are near extinction. Keen’s portrayal of Laura was a massive departure from traditional child acting in the genre. For the majority of the film, her character remains silent, requiring Keen to rely entirely on facial expressions, body language, and physical intensity to convey a lifetime of trauma and rage. The role demanded rigorous stunt training, as Laura’s combat style is feral and acrobatic, mirroring the primal nature of Wolverine.

Logan received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics highlighting Keen’s ability to hold her own against veterans like Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart. Her performance solidified the emotional core of the movie, particularly in the final scenes that provided a definitive end to Hugh Jackman's initial 17-year run as the character.

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Seven years after her breakout role, Dafne Keen surprised audiences by reprising her role as Laura (X-23) in Deadpool & Wolverine. This appearance marked the character's official entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) through the concept of the multiverse.

In this project, Keen portrays an older, more mature version of Laura. Living in the "Void"—a desolate landscape at the end of time—she serves as a seasoned warrior and a mentor figure to a variant of Wolverine who has lost his way. Unlike her silent debut in Logan, this iteration of Laura is articulate and reflective. She delivers a pivotal speech that serves as the film’s emotional turning point, reminding Logan of his heroic legacy. The return of X-23 was kept highly secret during production, making her reveal in the final trailer and the film itself a significant moment for long-term fans of the franchise.

Ana (2020)

Stepping away from the world of superheroes, Keen starred in the independent comedy-drama Ana. Filmed shortly after Logan but released later due to distribution delays, the movie features her as the titular character, a young girl who forms an unlikely friendship with a struggling car salesman named Rafa (played by Andy García).

Set against the backdrop of Puerto Rico, Ana is a road-trip movie that explores themes of friendship, poverty, and resilience. This role showcased Keen’s range beyond action-oriented parts, allowing her to engage in dialogue-heavy scenes and display a more grounded, vulnerable side of her acting capabilities. Her chemistry with Andy García was noted as a highlight, as the two characters navigate a series of financial and personal obstacles while traveling across the island.

Television Series Featuring Dafne Keen

Television has been a consistent platform for Keen to lead long-form narratives, allowing her to develop characters over multiple seasons.

His Dark Materials (2019–2022)

Keen portrayed the lead character, Lyra Belacqua (later Lyra Silvertongue), in the BBC and HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman’s acclaimed fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials. The series spanned three seasons, covering the events of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass.

Lyra is a young girl living in a parallel world where human souls exist outside the body as animal companions called daemons. Keen’s performance tracks Lyra’s growth from a rebellious orphan at Jordan College to a key figure in a cosmic war against the Magisterium, a religious authority that seeks to suppress freedom and magic.

Working alongside high-profile actors like Ruth Wilson (who played Mrs. Coulter) and James McAvoy (who played Lord Asriel), Keen was praised for capturing Lyra’s stubbornness, bravery, and intelligence. Interestingly, her real-life father, Will Keen, also appeared in the series as Father MacPhail, providing a unique dynamic on set. The production required extensive work with CGI, as Keen had to interact with her character’s daemon, Pantalaimon, which was added in post-production.

The Acolyte (2024)

In 2024, Dafne Keen joined the Star Wars universe in the Disney+ series The Acolyte. Set during the High Republic era—approximately 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace—the show explores a period of relative peace that is threatened by emerging dark side forces.

Keen played Jecki Lon, a Padawan learner to Jedi Master Sol (played by Lee Jung-jae). The role required a significant physical transformation, as Jecki is a Theelin-human hybrid. Keen underwent hours of prosthetic and makeup application to achieve the character's distinctive spotted skin and horn-like features.

Her portrayal of Jecki Lon was characterized by stoicism, discipline, and exceptional lightsaber proficiency. To prepare for the role, Keen undertook extensive martial arts and lightsaber training, aiming to showcase a more refined and technical fighting style compared to the raw aggression of her character in Logan. Despite the character's limited screen time, Jecki Lon became a fan favorite for her competence and her dynamic with other Jedi characters.

The Refugees (2014–2015)

Dafne Keen’s professional debut occurred in the science-fiction drama The Refugees (Spanish title: Refugiados). This was a co-production between the BBC and the Spanish network Atresmedia.

The story follows a rural family whose lives are upended when millions of people from the future travel back in time to the present day to escape a global disaster. Keen played the role of Ana "Ani" Cruz Oliver. At the time of filming, she was only nine years old. This project was also a collaboration with her father, Will Keen, who played her on-screen father. Although the series only ran for one season, it provided the foundation for her career and caught the attention of casting directors looking for bilingual child actors for international projects.

Upcoming Movies and Television Projects

As a rising star, Dafne Keen has several highly anticipated projects in various stages of development and production.

Whistle (2025)

Keen is set to star in the horror-thriller Whistle, directed by Corin Hardy (known for The Nun). The film centers on a group of high school students who discover an ancient, cursed object—an Aztec death whistle. They soon realize that blowing the whistle summons their future deaths to hunt them down. Keen plays Chrys Willet, one of the lead students. This project represents her first major foray into the horror genre, further diversifying her filmography.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3

It has been widely reported that Dafne Keen will join the cast of the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians for its third season. She is expected to portray the goddess Artemis. This role will likely involve her leading the "Hunters of Artemis," a group of immortal archers. Fans of the book series by Rick Riordan have expressed significant interest in this casting, as Artemis is a powerful and fiercely independent deity, fitting well with Keen’s history of playing strong-willed characters.

Night Comes

Keen is also attached to a project titled Night Comes, directed by Jay Hernandez. While plot details remain relatively scarce, it is described as a survival thriller set against a backdrop where humanity is facing an extinction-level threat. Keen will also serve as an executive producer on this project, marking her first foray into the production side of the industry.

Voice Acting and Other Media

Beyond film and television, Dafne Keen has lent her voice to narrative-driven audio content.

The Battersea Poltergeist (2021)

Keen starred in the BBC Radio 4 podcast The Battersea Poltergeist, a blend of documentary and drama that re-investigates a famous haunting from 1950s London. She played the role of Shirley Hitchings, the teenager at the center of the paranormal events. The podcast was a major success, praised for its immersive sound design and Keen’s ability to carry the tension of the story through her vocal performance alone.

Recurring Themes in Dafne Keen’s Roles

When examining the movies and TV shows of Dafne Keen, several recurring themes and stylistic choices become apparent:

1. Physicality and Action: From the claws of X-23 to the lightsaber of Jecki Lon, Keen has frequently chosen roles that require significant physical preparation and stunt work.
2. The "Found Family" Dynamic: Many of her projects involve characters seeking connection outside of traditional family structures—such as Laura and Logan, Lyra and her allies, or Ana and Rafa.
3. Bilingualism: As a native speaker of both English and Spanish, Keen has worked on productions that utilize her language skills, particularly in The Refugees and Ana.
4. Genre Fiction: Her filmography is heavily weighted toward sci-fi, fantasy, and superhero genres, suggesting a professional affinity for high-concept storytelling.

Summary

Dafne Keen has established a formidable presence in the entertainment industry within a relatively short period. Starting from her debut in The Refugees, she transitioned into a global icon with Logan and successfully carried the weight of the His Dark Materials series. Her recent roles in The Acolyte and Deadpool & Wolverine demonstrate her continued relevance in major franchises, while upcoming projects like Whistle and Percy Jackson indicate a willingness to explore new genres and iconic characters.

FAQ

What was Dafne Keen’s first movie?

Dafne Keen’s first feature film was Logan (2017), where she played the role of Laura/X-23.

Is Dafne Keen in Star Wars?

Yes, Dafne Keen played the Jedi Padawan Jecki Lon in the Disney+ series The Acolyte (2024).

Who did Dafne Keen play in His Dark Materials?

She played the lead role of Lyra Belacqua (Lyra Silvertongue) throughout all three seasons of the show.

Will Dafne Keen return as X-23?

Following her appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), there is significant fan speculation regarding her return in future MCU films like Avengers: Secret Wars, though nothing has been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios.

Has Dafne Keen ever worked with her father?

Yes, she has worked with her father, Will Keen, in both the TV series The Refugees and His Dark Materials.

What is Dafne Keen’s next movie?

Her next major film release is expected to be the horror-thriller Whistle, scheduled for 2025.