‘Percy Jackson’ Star Dafne Keen Says Hugh Jackman Was a True Father Figure Who Protected Her on the ‘Logan’ Set

Dafne Keen was just a child when she landed the role that changed her life. She was about 11 when she filmed ‘Logan’, her first major movie, playing Laura, the young mutant also known as X-23, opposite Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.

Getting there wasn’t easy. Keen went through about 6 auditions before a screen test with Jackman, and she has said she was nervous mostly because she already loved the character so much.

Keen, now 21, recently reflected on that experience in depth. In an episode of Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum released on November 3, she described the kind of support Jackman gave her during production.

“He gave me a lot of really positive reinforcement and a lot of really good advice,” Keen said. “He was always so lovely. He’s just the best number one you could ever wish for.” She went even further when describing their bond. “He’s the best on-screen dad,” she said. “He genuinely felt like a sort of parental figure.”

Dafne Keen Says Hugh Jackman Was Like A Real Father Figure And Made Sure She Was Protected On The Set Of Logan Dafne Keen: “He gave me a lot of really positive reinforcement and a lot of really good advice.” “He was always so lovely. He’s just the best number one you could ever wish for.” “He’s the best on-screen dad. He genuinely felt like a sort of parental figure.” “He made sure no one was abusing my hours and that I was having fun on set.” “He made sure I wasn’t aware of any tensions happening behind the scenes.” “He was so incredibly protective.”

— Murna Elisa (@Murnalisa_) November 4, 2026

According to Keen, Jackman also looked out for her well-being. She explained that he made sure no one was abusing her hours and that she was having fun on set. He also shielded her from some of the stress of a big production. Keen said he made sure she wasn’t aware of any tensions happening behind the scenes, adding that he was incredibly protective.

Dafne Keen says it was terrifying when people started showing up at her tiny school in Madrid after Logan came out. “It was terrifying when people started showing up at my like tiny school in Madrid with like pop cameras. That was scary.” “I experienced quite a lot of very creepy pedophile men who would send letters and Bibles to my house and music boxes and would like follow me to school.” “A bad person is like someone with a drum in a waiting room. They’re just really loud. But there’s another 30 people who are being perfectly quiet and respectful.”

— Trig (@TKOTriggerX) November 3, 2026

Those comments are especially striking given what else Keen shared in the same interview. She revealed that she was offered cocaine at wrap parties when she was around 11 or 12, which she said she had no interest in, and that adult male fans later showed up at her school in Madrid after ‘Logan’ came out.

Dafne Keen says she was offered coke at wrap parties when she was 11 or 12. Dafne Keen: “I was getting offered coke at wrap parties. Like tiny like 11, 12.” Michael Rosenbaum: “11 or 12?” Dafne: “Yeah. And it was like so I saw what that was so I was like I don’t really have any interest in that.”

— Trig (@TKOTriggerX) November 3, 2026

Keen has spoken warmly about Jackman before. At an earlier fan convention panel, she described him as being like a dad to her and said filming felt like a road trip, recalling that he even took her to a water park. At the time, Jackman was also preparing for ‘The Greatest Showman’. Keen said the 2 of them constantly sang and danced on set.

A new trailer for ‘PERCY JACKSON’ season 3 has been released. Premiering November 20 on Disney+. https://t.co/vtEJZzY69r

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 2, 2026

Jackman has shared his own memorable story from their first meeting. He has said Keen punched him in the arm during her first audition so hard that he had a bruise the next day. The pair reunited in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, with Keen returning as X-23. She admitted she was terrified their dynamic might not work after so many years apart.

Keen called the reunion with a different version of Logan heartbreaking. She also said Jackman had been adamant on set that he was finished with the role before he was convinced to return.

Keen’s career has continued to grow since ‘Logan’. She has starred in ‘His Dark Materials’ and ‘The Acolyte’, and she leads the horror film ‘Whistle’ opposite Nick Frost. Next up, she plays the goddess Artemis in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 3, which premieres on Disney+ on November 20. Her latest comments show how much Jackman’s care shaped her early experience in Hollywood.

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