Dafne Keen has praised Hugh Jackman for looking out for her while filming Logan during the demanding months of production, recalling how he made sure she was treated appropriately as a child performer. She was around 11 when she played Laura, or X-23, opposite Jackman's Wolverine in the 2017 film.
On Michael Rosenbaum's Inside of You podcast, she said Jackman watched her hours, made sure she had fun and shielded her from tensions. She remembered a co-star who recognised she was still a child.
Jackman Took Her Wellbeing Seriously
Keen said Jackman offered encouragement and advice while ensuring she was not pushed beyond appropriate limits. 'He made sure that no one was abusing my hours, that I was having fun on set, that I wasn't aware of any tensions that would've been happening behind the scenes,' she recalled.
'He was so incredibly protective and amazing,' she added.
Keen called him 'the best number one you could ever wish for' and 'the best on-screen dad', adding that he felt like a parental figure.
Jackman paid attention to the demands placed on a young performer and ensured her needs as a child were recognised. Keen did not describe a specific confrontation with producers, so his role should not be portrayed as a dramatic on-set dispute.
Respected As An Actor, Allowed To Be A Child
Keen praised the atmosphere on the Logan set. She said the cast and crew made her feel like a respected artist while allowing her the freedom to behave like a child.
'They were all really good on that set at making me really feel like a grown-up and making me really feel like a respectable artist,' she said.
She added that the adults around her also 'allowed her to be a kid and goof around and be silly'. That balance meant Keen could contribute as a performer without being expected to take on adult responsibilities.
Keen Also Opens Up About Being Offered Cocaine As A Child
Keen's praise for Jackman came during a conversation in which she also described a separate childhood experience in the film industry. She said she was offered cocaine at wrap parties when she was approximately 11, 12 and 13.
'I was getting offered coke at wrap parties,' she recalled. Keen said she turned the offers down, explaining that witnessing substance use as a child left her with little interest in drugs.
'I was saying no, fortunately,' she said.
She did not identify who offered her cocaine or which productions the parties were connected to. Nor did she say the incidents happened on the Logan set or involved Jackman. The offers were separate from her account of filming the superhero drama.
Why Jackman's Support Matters
Keen's comments prompted online praise for Jackman, with some commenters describing him as a decent person who used his position to look after a younger colleague. Others argued that protecting child performers should be a basic industry responsibility, rather than an unusual act.
The reactions underline adults' responsibility to ensure young performers' hours, welfare and boundaries are respected.
Since Logan, Keen has continued working in major productions, including His Dark Materials, The Acolyte and Deadpool & Wolverine, in which she returned as X-23.
Keen's recollection describes consistent care: Jackman helped her work, feel respected and enjoy the set while still being a child.
