Dafne Keen’s upcoming MCU debut in Deadpool & Wolverine is the perfect opportunity to revisit her standout role in HBO’s His Dark Materials. Keen first garnered widespread acclaim with her feature film debut in Logan (2017), where she starred alongside Hugh Jackman as Laura, also known as X-23. In Deadpool & Wolverine, Keen’s Laura joins a resistance in the Void—a timeless realm ruled by the merciless Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) and the all-devouring Alioth.
Keen’s appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine is significant for multiple reasons, not least of which is the chance to see her reunite with Jackman in what is likely his final Marvel film. Before her role in Logan, Keen starred in the BBC series The Refugees (2014–15), but it was her portrayal of Laura that truly catapulted her to fame. Despite this acclaim, Keen’s screen time since Logan has been limited, largely due to her prominent role in His Dark Materials.
In His Dark Materials, Keen plays Lyra Belacqua, a young girl raised in the scholarly environment of Jordan College. Adapted from Philip Pullman’s beloved fantasy trilogy, the series—often known by the title of the first book, The Golden Compass—features a world where human souls appear as animal companions called daemons. Lyra’s daemon, Pan, is still finding its form, but Lyra’s challenges expand far beyond this when the enigmatic Marisa Coulter (Ruth Wilson) arrives at the college.
His Dark Materials is a sweeping epic that takes Lyra across multiple worlds as she uncovers a dangerous secret involving Mrs. Coulter, a member of the oppressive Magisterium, and her own father, Lord Asriel (James McAvoy). While Lyra is destined to play a crucial role in a world-altering prophecy, her immediate concern is rescuing her friend Roger (Lewin Lloyd) from a series of sinister child abductions. The three-season saga of His Dark Materials charts Lyra’s heroic journey through a complex and vast multiverse, striving to save all that she holds dear.
Contrary to what some might think, HBO’s His Dark Materials isn’t a sequel to The Golden Compass. The mix-up likely arises because Pullman’s first book in the trilogy was adapted into a film in 2007, which carried the title The Golden Compass. While this movie, featuring notable performances like Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter, boasts strong casting and impressive production design, it doesn’t quite measure up to HBO’s adaptation.
Dafne Keen’s portrayal of Lyra in the HBO series captures the character’s essence from the books with remarkable accuracy. The three-season His Dark Materials series provides a comprehensive adaptation of Pullman’s entire epic fantasy, delving deeply into the expansive multiverse of the story. In contrast, The Golden Compass film only offered a glimpse of the trilogy’s vast and intricate world.
Beyond her standout role in what many consider the most underrated fantasy TV show of the past decade, Dafne Keen has made her mark across several major franchises. In addition to her acclaimed performance in His Dark Materials and her upcoming role in Deadpool & Wolverine within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Keen has also ventured into the Star Wars galaxy. In The Acolyte, a 2024 Star Wars series, Keen portrays Jecki Lon, a Jedi Padawan who is both half-human and half-Theelin. This murder mystery set in the Star Wars universe further showcases Keen’s versatility and range as an actor.
