Dafne Keen Biography: Age, Parents, Movies & Relationship

It’s rare for a child actor to steal a superhero film, but Dafne Keen did exactly that. At just 11 years old, she was cast as Laura Kinney, aka X-23, in Logan (2017)—a role that launched her into the spotlight and made her the youngest lead in a Marvel film at the time. Her performance, alongside Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, earned widespread praise and set the stage for a career that now spans HBO’s His Dark Materials and Disney+’s Percy Jackson. Here’s a verified look at her biography, family background, and what we actually know about her personal life.

Birth date: 4 January 2005 ·
Nationality: Spanish and British ·
Breakout role: Laura / X-23 in Logan (2017) ·
Notable TV series: His Dark Materials (2019–2022) ·
Instagram followers: 2 million+ ·
Height: 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)

Eight key facts about Dafne Keen, drawn from verified sources, show the range of her career in a compact table.

How old was Dafne Keen in the movie Logan?

Her age during filming

Dafne Keen was born on 4 January 2005 in Madrid, Spain, according to her Wikipedia biography (crowd-sourced encyclopedia). Filming for Logan took place from April to August 2016, which means she was 11 years old through most of production. The French entertainment site AlloCiné (film database) confirms she was 11 during shooting. She turned 12 on 4 January 2017, just months before the film’s release.

Release date of Logan

Logan premiered in March 2017, when Keen was already 12. IMDb (film industry database) lists the release as 3 March 2017 in the United States. At 12, she became the youngest actor to play a Marvel lead at the time.

Who is Dafne Keen related to?

Parents’ background

Dafne Keen’s parents are both actors. Her father is Will Keen (British actor and stage performer) and her mother is María Fernández Ache (Spanish actress, director, and playwright). The Wikipedia biography identifies her as the only child of the couple. Her parents met while working in theatre and raised her in a bilingual household.

Family influence on career

Both parents influenced Keen’s early acting path. Her first on-screen role was alongside her father in the Spanish-British series The Refugees (2014–2015), where she played Ana “Ani” Cruz Oliver, as noted on IMDb Biography (actor profile). Her mother’s Spanish heritage is the reason Keen holds Spanish nationality and speaks the language fluently.

Is Dafne Keen mixed?

Her ethnicity

Yes, Dafne Keen is of mixed British and Spanish heritage. Her father is English, her mother is Spanish. She identifies as both Spanish and British and holds dual nationality.

National identity

In interviews, Keen has described herself as “Spanish and British”. The Spanish Wikipedia entry (community encyclopedia) notes she was born and raised in Madrid. Her bilingualism is often highlighted—she moves easily between English and Spanish in promotional appearances.

How did Dafne Keen get the role in Logan?

Casting process

Keen auditioned for the part of Laura / X-23 when she was just 10 years old. Casting directors were impressed by her fearlessness. According to Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator), Logan was both her breakout role and her debut film credit. She had no prior film experience—only the TV series The Refugees.

Her audition confidence

In an interview with AlloCiné, Keen reportedly said she “didn’t feel nervous at all” during the audition process. The AlloCiné article (French cinema news) described her as remarkably confident for her age. Director James Mangold later praised her physicality and emotional range.

Are Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen friends?

On-set relationship

Hugh Jackman has spoken warmly about his time working with Keen. In interviews, he described developing a father-daughter bond on set. The IMDb profile (actor database) notes that Jackman praised her professionalism. Keen has also said Jackman was “like a second dad” during filming.

Public statements

Jackman told Entertainment Weekly in 2017 that Keen was “the most impressive young actor” he had worked with. Although the full quote is behind a paywall, the sentiment is widely cited on Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia). The pair remain in contact, and Keen reprised her role as Laura in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)—a clear sign of mutual respect.

“She’s going to be a huge star. She has that thing you can’t teach.”

– Hugh Jackman, quoted on IMDb News (industry news)

Is Dafne Keen in a relationship?

Current status

As of 2025, Dafne Keen has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationship. She keeps her personal life private and rarely discusses it in interviews. The Famous People profile (celebrity biography site) lists her relationship status as “single”.

Public disclosures

Keen has never been photographed with a partner or made any statement about dating. Speculation occasionally arises on social media, but no credible source has confirmed a relationship. This aligns with her general approach of separating her public persona from her private life.

What are Dafne Keen’s movies and TV shows?

Major film roles

• Logan (2017) as Laura Kinney / X-23 (IMDb)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) as Laura (IMDb)

Television appearances

• The Refugees (2014–2015) as Ana “Ani” Cruz Oliver (IMDb)
• His Dark Materials (2019–2022) as Lyra Belacqua (IMDb)
• The Crown (2020) as a young Queen Elizabeth II (voice role) (IMDb)
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023–2024) as Thalia Grace (IMDb)

Upcoming projects in 2026

Keen has not officially announced any new projects set for 2026. However, given her role in the Percy Jackson series (season 2 is in development) and her continued relationship with Marvel, further appearances are widely expected. The Simple English Wikipedia (encyclopedia) lists her as “active” with no confirmed future credits yet.

Timeline of Dafne Keen’s career

• 2005 – Born on 4 January in Madrid, Spain (Wikipedia)
• 2014–2015 – Makes TV debut in The Refugees alongside her father (IMDb)
• 2016 – Cast as Laura Kinney / X-23 in Logan (AlloCiné)
• 2017 – Logan released; Keen receives critical acclaim (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 2019–2022 – Stars as Lyra in HBO/BBC series His Dark Materials (IMDb)
• 2023–2024 – Plays Thalia Grace in Disney+’s Percy Jackson (IMDb)
• 2024 – Reprises Laura in Deadpool & Wolverine (IMDb)
• 2026 – Future projects under development (not yet confirmed)

Clarity: What’s confirmed vs. what’s not

Confirmed facts

• Born 4 Jan 2005 in Madrid to Will Keen and María Fernández Ache (Wikipedia biography)
• Played X-23 in Logan (2017) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) (IMDb actor profile)
• Starred in His Dark Materials (2019–2022) as Lyra (IMDb actor profile)
• Active on Instagram @dafnekeen with 2M+ followers (Instagram account)
• Dual Spanish-British nationality (Wikipedia biography)

What remains unclear

• Whether she is currently in a relationship (no public confirmation)
• Specific details of her 2026 projects

Quotes on Dafne Keen’s talent and character

“She was like a daughter to me on set. I have so much respect for her.”

– Hugh Jackman, as reported by IMDb News (industry news)

“I just went in and did my thing. I didn’t think about being nervous.”

– Dafne Keen, in an interview with AlloCiné (French cinema news)

The pattern is clear: Keen’s natural confidence and Jackman’s protective mentorship created a powerful dynamic that audiences could feel on screen.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Amber Midthunder: Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth & Prey Role
• Adria Arjona: Biography, Age, Height, and Relationship with Momoa

For Dafne Keen, the decision to stay private about her personal life while pursuing high-profile roles is a deliberate one. It allows her work to speak louder than gossip—a rare and mature choice for an actor who has already been in the spotlight for nearly a decade.