WORDS BY IRVIN RIVERA

Like most people around the world, British/Spanish actress DAFNE KEEN also felt the strange and hard year that affected everyone. From our lovely zoom chat, it is evident how the HIS DARK MATERIALS actress recognized the toll that isolation did on a lot of people. “Being locked in your home for ages. It's not been fun but I'm very aware that I'm very lucky. I have a family. I have a home. I have internet, which in this crazy time is very important. So, I'm quite grateful for all of that. But it has been hard.” She said.

The 15-year-old actress, who plays the main character LYRA in the HBO adaptation of the classic Philip Pullman fantasy novel series ‘HIS DARK MATERIALS’, does a lot of writing, painting and photography to keep herself busy during these strange times.

A certain level of elevated grace and fluency emanated from Keen as we spoke about the highly anticipated second season of HIS DARK MATERIALS. She was doing press interviews in Spain and I was just starting my day in Los Angeles. Our conversation is an absolute assurance that the show will be bolder, darker, and more raw. It’s more grounded, more human, and will definitely feel more connected to ­­magic, humanity and fantasy.

In this exclusive interview, read about KEEN’s role as a strong, female, hero leading a major TV series, the challenges and the highs of playing Lyra, her interesting creative process, and on using her voice and the power of her influence to being a more proactive citizen.

HIS DARK MATERIALS Season 1 took the audience to massive, epic adventures, what does Season 2 have in store?

I'd say it’s more raw. It feels like the relationships are more real. You get to see a lot more - a much sweeter side of Lyra which we never get to see in season one. It's much bigger; it all feels bigger and less positive. So you feel like it's in a dark place and you feel how big the world is, and how wrong it can all go at any point. 

Season one is already kind of dark in itself. Do you think that season two will go deeper, and explore that type of darkness?

Yes, it definitely does because you get to see the more human side of everything. You get to see Mrs. Coulter’s more human side, which is mad because she's basically the villain of the show. You get to basically understand her, which makes it much more messed up because you can't just hate her because you feel for her. So, you have this duplicity in your mind, where you go like I love her, but at the same time, she's a psychopath. And it holds the same with so many different characters. So, I feel like there's a lot of that. There’s so much surrounding death and pain, and mental health actually, and other stuff, which is really, really good. I'd say it's much darker. I would say that.

Now, speaking of evolution, how would you describe Lyra's evolution throughout the seasons of the show?

Well we saw Lyra being quite arrogant and egotistic in episode one. She basically feels like the world is her oyster and she suddenly discovers that there's an entire ocean outside of the oyster, and it's really dangerous. Most people in her life are trying to hurt her. And the one person who isn't is gone now, which is Roger. In Season 2, we start with an extremely broken Lyra, traumatized with massive trust issues. And I think that's when Will (Amir Wilson) comes into play, and he basically takes her out of this horrible place she's at. They're basically saying, hey, I'm also basically an orphan. I've always been alone. And I'm here, I'm going to care for you because that's what people do.

What's the best part about playing Lyra’s character?

I feel really honored to be able to play a strong female hero. It's so rare, and I feel even more honored because basically the heroes of the show are a young girl and a young black boy, which is something we never see. We never see women empowered; barely more so now and we do not see enough black heroes. So, I feel like it's an incredible honor to have these two characters as our heroes in the story.

Absolutely. And it's really beautiful that you guys were both highlighted in the show. 

What’s the biggest lesson that you’ve learned from Lyra?

I'd say go out there and try getting whatever you need for yourself, and try to survive.

Don't try to be accommodating yourself to other people's needs because at some point, most people in Lyra's story, not personally mine, they usually do something bad or they're trying to take stuff that's so part of your space and part of your stuff and you.

They basically absorb you into their world like what Mrs. Coulter does with Lyra. So, the biggest lesson is basically stand your ground and stay true to yourself, I'd say.

How similar are you to Lyra’s character?

I'd say we have a few qualities that are similar. We're different people, obviously, but I'd say we are quite similar.

Do you like music?

I love music. I'm such a big fan.

If your character could have its own soundtrack, what would it be and why?

I think she'd love London Calling by The Clash. It'll be 100% one of her jams. I also feel like she's more of a retro girl. I feel like she wouldn't be into all of the modern stuff. Maybe like, Megan the Stallion would be the most modern one she'd get. But I feel like she'd definitely be into, like Amy Winehouse, The Clash, I feel like she'd love Creep by Radiohead.

I love Creep by Radiohead.

It’s such a good song.

It is! Now, going back to the show, what are the challenges and the highs that you experienced while filming Season 2?

I think the biggest thing is…well mostly on season one, is the whole “demon” thing because on season one, I did not know what anything was going to look like. I just basically went to the premiere and thought, oh, that looks incredible (The CGI). But I did not know how it woul­d look like for like an entire year. I was like, how is that going to look?

But I'd say that it's really strange. I had to imagine so many things. I got to play full-on fight scenes to nothing. It was just massive polar bears killing each other. And I was like, oh my god! and it was out of thin air and there are like demons and stuff. So that was really strange.

Also, it is really underrated, but temperature! Like if you're filming a scene, we had a lot of really wintery scenes and fall coats and stuff in August.

Is that a hot weather during that time?

So hot! There was a massive heat wave. There was a massive, massive heat wave and I had to wear a hat, gloves, a fur coat, a jumper, a scarf, like basically a leather and body thing. Some really woolen socks, like really warm boots. It was horrible. I almost died from the heat. They were really safe about it though. And then in winter, we did some of the summer scenes which we had to reshoot and I was just frozen to the neck.

Oh my God, you're such a trooper - I couldn't tell. As an audience, I couldn't tell that it was shot in a different temperature. That's crazy.

What's the most memorable moment for you throughout the whole process of making the series?

Season 1, I loved Oxford on both seasons. I feel like it's our little special place. It holds a very special place in my heart, it's a beautiful city. It's just incredible. And that was when I truly got to know everyone from the crew. Like, there wasn't that many new people but that's when I really got to know Amir properly and when I got to know the new directors and stuff.

So, I feel like that's a very, very special place for me. There are just a few moments, like, we went to the cinema a few times during Season 2 and that was really special and we had an amazing time. And we went rock climbing quite frequently. So there’s a place in Cardiff where we went rock climbing - it just holds very dear memories. And just a few funny things on set like, people falling over, pranks and stuff. You know, the classics.  

Jack Thorne, as well as several people compared Lyra to Greta Thunderberg. Given the current social situations happening right now, what do you think would Lyra do?

I genuinely do think Lyra would be like an activist. I do not think she would be like a normal average teen on TikTok, on social media. She'd be out on the streets fighting for Black Lives Matter and the environment, and she would like politics and stuff. I really think she'd be really, really involved. She has that leader spirit, I feel like, which she'd be probably using by now.

As for yourself. Do you feel like you're also a leader? Do you feel that in you?

Me? Oh, I don't think I'm a leader. I like to think that I use my voice because I got a voice and I cannot ignore it. And I just feel that people who have a voice and a following should use it for good and not just for their own egotistic things like their own vanity and stuff. So, I try to use it as much as I can for good causes and stuff. So, I wouldn't say I'm a leader. I think having a following does give me that sort of influence. Yes, exactly. I can influence people, I think.

How was it to have parents as actors? Do you ever feel that it adds any extra pressure on you as an actress? 

Yes, 100%. I mean, when you live with such incredible artists at home, you basically feel like you're a bit in the shadow of them. Like, will I ever be like as good as them and stuff. But my mom helps me, so I can't really say anything like, oh, they don't support me and they judge me and stuff. So, no, they're completely supportive. As I said, my mom is my coach, but it's actually quiet, you do feel like you are constantly in the flow, and you've got the lower hand, but it's good. They helped me keep me on my toes, and I've learned so much from them.

That's great.

How’s your creative process whenever you go and film a scene?

I feel like with Lyra it’s much easier now than it was in the beginning because obviously, I've been playing Lyra for two years now. So, I really know how to snap into it.

But at the start, I had this really strange approach which is, firstly, I'm very hardworking. I learn my lines. I analyze the scene; I analyse the intentions - my intention of the scene. I analyze the actions. I analyze the entire thing. I basically plan ahead for the entire character development for the three books. And I have this really strange approach to get into character, which is when I take side notes and scripts, I do it in the character’s handwriting instead of in mine. So, if you take one of my scripts from His Dark Materials, it's in Lyra's handwriting.

Really? I'm curious, what's the difference between Lyra's handwriting from your handwriting?

Not to brag, but I've got quite nice handwriting. Lyra’s is a bit more squiggly but it's all together and it feels much more old fashioned because supposedly, they're like in the 60s 50s like that. So, it's a bit more cursive, and it's a bit more squiggly, like faster. I'd say. Like, even though I write fast but it looks like that.

Did you have to learn that? How did you come up with Lyra's handwriting? 

I remember it was raining in Cardiff. I didn't know anyone yet. It was like before rehearsals and stuff. And I was in my house, and I was doing work on the character. And I just started writing Lyra in all of these different handwriting's and seeing what would feel right while saying lines. So, I was learning the scene for rehearsing every next day. So, while I was saying Lyra's lines, I was writing down the lines that I was saying. And then this one type of writing just, as I was saying, it just rolled off my hands. So, I thought that's it and it just felt right that’s what I've been doing for two years.

Wow. That's amazing.

Out of all the roles that you’ve played, is there any role/character that resonated with you and why?

They're just all so special, but I feel like the ones that have marked me the most have probably been Laura (from LOGAN) and Lyra, because I did a job before that. But it felt much more like it was over the summer, it was much shorter with my dad working and stuff, and then when I went on to Logan, I felt like a proper actress. I had such a great time. And that made me realize that I wanted that to be my profession and not just like a hobby I did in summer.

And then His Dark Materials is just, I guess the job I've most learned on. And I've gotten to know so many people that are now great friends of mine. And so many people that have taught me so much. So, I feel like those two jobs have really changed me as a person. And both of those characters are very endearing, very special to me.

By the way, I've read interviews and watched interviews of you telling about your audition experience for Logan. And it was great and it was amazing to read about it, and how you approach things.

So, when you first read the script, for Logan and for His Dark Materials, how was that like? Given that these are the roles that resonated with you a lot.

I remember I got really excited. I read Logan when I was in Rome. When I got the script for Logan, I was in Rome. And I read it, I think, in like a day. Just like one-afternoon, I picked up the script and I just flipped through it. And it felt so exciting. I remember I was so happy. I was so excited. I had so many ideas. I was so enthusiastic about it. And then with His Dark Materials was the same, I was just so happy. When I'm not on set, I miss it so much. So then when I get a new script, I get so frantic about it. So, like I start reading it, and I start taking down notes and like having ideas and stuff. So, I get very excited, and it was really great reading it. I went in I had a few ideas and stuff, which I told Jack and yes. So, they were both very fun to get to work on. 

Aside from acting, what else keeps you busy?

I do a lot of writing. I love writing. I paint sometimes. I also, I've been sewing quite a lot. I got bored in quarantine and taught myself how to sew. I love photography like you. I'm very into photography, except it's not my job. 

I saw some of your photos in your Instagram. It's quite amazing.

Thanks. Yes, that's not my best work, trust me. Actually, at the moment, I'm developing a short film which I've written and I'm directing, and I'm doing the filmography on it. I'm very excited for that. That's been keeping me very busy. I wrote the script, so…

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

Okay, this is good. That's a good question. I've ever had that one before. Let me think. I think I'd be a novel.  I'd be a very descriptive book. So, I sort of like Frankenstein, like much more descriptiveness than dialogue because I observe a lot I'd say. And I think it would be emotional but not melodramatic. And yes, I think that's it. That's all the information I have to give about me as a book. 

His Dark Materials S2 is now streaming w/ new episodes every Monday at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max