Throughout the three seasons, the creators of His Dark Materials have managed to astonish audiences by perfectly capturing the magic of Philip Pullman’s novels and bringing the daemons to life. In particular, Dafne Keen astonished audiences with her ability to capture the character of Lyra Belacqua, the young girl destined to become the new Eve.
Indeed, it’s quite remarkable the extent to which the young actor has managed to fully inhibit this remarkable role. As the series reaches its conclusion, it’s worth taking a closer look at just which of Lyra’s mannerisms Keen manages to capture and why she has become such a beloved part of fantasy television.
Dafne Keen Manages To Capture Lyra's Free Spirit
From the very beginning of His Dark Materials, it was clear that Lyra was someone who wasn’t going to be bound by what others thought she should do. Keen manages to show viewers a character who moves through the world as if she owns it (which is no small thing, considering her youth.
Whether it’s racing through the streets of Oxford or managing to get away from her mother, Mrs. Coulter, Lyra is someone who is truly a free spirit. This makes her one of the series’ best characters, even though she can, at times, be irresponsible.
Dafne Keen Manages To Capture Lyra's Intelligence Well
Part of what makes His Dark Materials such a great HBO show is its innate intelligence. It is the type of fantasy that makes the viewer think differently about the world. This intelligence is also reflected in the characters, particularly Lyra.
Among other things, Keen shows just how fiercely bright Lyra is. She can, for example, read the alethiometer, a skill which comes to her naturally. What’s more, she is often able to appraise a situation at a glance, a skill she seems to have inherited from both of her parents (Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter).
Dafne Keen Manages To Show Lyra's Devotion To Roger
For Lyra, few bonds are as important as her friendship with Roger. While he is far more willing to follow the rules than she is, there’s no question that she is devoted to him.
This becomes particularly true in season 3, when it becomes clear how tormented Lyra is about what happened to Roger at the hands of her father. Her obvious anguish at the boy’s suffering is something that Keen coveys particularly well, and her anguished cries in her dreams signify how much his death continues to weigh on her conscience.
Dafne Keen Understands The Complex Relationship with Mrs. Coulter
Mrs. Coulter is one of Ruth Wilson’s best roles. She manages to capture the complexity of this remarkable character, a woman as ruthless as she is charismatic. It’s to Keen’s tremendous credit that she manages to capture so much of Lyra’s complicated relationship with her mother.
In particular, she shows the extent to which Lyra yearns for a mother’s love, even as she also has to contend with the reality that her own mother is quite capable of evil. It’s a dynamic that makes for rich interpersonal drama, and it’s to Keen’s credit that she captures it so effectively.
Dafne Keene Captures Lyra's Charisma
As frustrating as she can sometimes be, there’s no question that Lyra is also a force of nature. She is the type of person who draws everyone into her orbit, whether they want to or not.
This is something that Keen is particularly adept at capturing. Any time she is on the screen, it’s easy to see why Lyra manages to make everyone fall in love with her, whether it’s the hulking-armored bear Iorek or the human Will. Keen makes Lyra into someone that both characters and audiences want to spend more time with.
Dafne Keene Captures Lyra's Bravery
Like many of the best fantasy shows, His Dark Materials is an adventure. As a result, Lyra often finds herself facing dangerous foes, most notably the theocratic organization known as the Magisterium. However, she is not one to be easily intimidated, and she repeatedly fights back against truly terrifying odds.
In fact, Lyra’s bravery is something that Keen manages to capture in perfect detail. Everything about her posture, from the set of her jaw to the flash in her eyes, suggests that she is someone it would not be wise to tamper with.
Dafne Keene Captures Lyra's Stubbornness Well
Like all great fantasy characters, Lyra is a study in contradictions. While she is generous to a fault sometimes, she is also notoriously stubborn and there are numerous times when her headstrong attitude gets her into trouble.
Keen allows viewers to grasp this part of Lyra’s personality without making her insufferable. In fact, it’s to the young actress’ credit that she allows this to be a key part of her interpretation of the character without allowing it to subsume all of her other, more appealing qualities.
Dafne Keene's Acting Skills Shows She Understands The Bond With Pan
Lyra, like all residents of her world, has a powerful bond with a being known as a dæmon, which is their soul. These take the form of various animals, before settling in adulthood. From the first episode, it's clear that Lyra has a particularly strong bond with Pantalaimon.
Indeed, he is one of the most steadfast allies in her life, and Keen shows a genuine warmth whenever she addresses Pan. Given that the character only exists in the world of CGI, the authenticity of her performance is all the more remarkable, and a testament to her skills as an actor.
Dafne Keene Has Captured Lyra's Vulnerability Perfectly
Lyra, like all great fantasy heroes, has many different shades to her character. Though she is headstrong and independent, she is also deeply sensitive, and she yearns for a sense of belonging.
Rather than allowing any particular trait of Lyra’s to dominate the others, Keen keeps them all in a delicate balance. There are moments, particularly when she’s encountering her mother, that she allows Lyra’s yearning to shine through. It is, all told, a rich and complex portrayal, and it says much for the actor that she is able to convey so many of the complexities of Pullman’s creation.
Dafne Keene's Acting Shows She Understands Lyra's Love For Will
Once Lyra meets will, her life is never the same. There is an undeniable bond between the two of them, and it only grows stronger as they continue on their extraordinary journey.
Both Dafne Keen and Amir Wilson manage to bring so much depth to their characterizations, and Keen helps the viewer see how intensely Lyra is drawn to Will. At first, it seems to be mostly curiosity but, as season 3 has shown, their bond has grown into a romance, and Keen’s eyes show just how much her relationship with Will has come to mean to her.