Netflix’s spy thriller starring Keira Knightley,Black Doves, boasts an impressive cast of deeply talented British actors.Black Dovesfollows Helen Webb (Knightley), a member of the eponymous spy group based in London. Helen sells secrets she steals from her husband, Wallace (Andrew Buchan), but after her secret lover is killed, she goes on a quest for revenge. It’s far from a typical holiday movie, butBlack Dovesused its star-studded cast to tremendous effect.
Black Dovesdebuted to a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a large part of its critical success is due to its cast.Reviews forBlack Doveshave praised Keira Knightley in particular, but also stars like Sarah Lancashire and Ben Whishaw. Even the supporting cast ofBlack Dovescontributed some stellar performances, and they all combined to create one of thebest action shows on Netflix. The cast is filled with Oscar, Emmy, and Olivier nominees and winners, and learning more about the actors who madeBlack Doveswhat it is will prove exactly why the show works so well.
Keira Knightley As Helen Webb
Date Of Birth: June 28, 2025
Actor: Keira Knightley was born in Teddington, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom.Knightley had her breakthrough role in 2002 withBend It Like Beckham, where she played Jules. Prior to that,Knightley appeared inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menaceas Sabé, the body double of Natalie Portman’s Queen Padmé Amidala. Since then, Knightley has gained international fame for both dramas likePride & PrejudiceandThe Imitation Game- both of which earned her Oscar nominations - and major franchises likePirates of the Carribean.
The Imitation Game
Joan Clarke
Character: InBlack Doves, Keira Knightley plays Helen Webb, a secret agent for the Black Doves. Helen is married to politician Wallace, and she steals secrets from him to give to her employers. After her lover, Jason Davies, is killed, Helen goes on a mission to find revenge for him.
Ben Whishaw As Sam Young
Date Of Birth: July 20, 2025
Actor: Ben Whishaw was born in Clifton, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom.Whishaw’s breakthrough role was inPerfume: The Story of a Murdererin 2006, though he also gained fame in 2004 for a production ofHamlet. Since then, Whishaw has become one of the biggest actors in Britain. He joined several major franchises like Daniel Craig’s James Bond films, where he played Q, and he also voiced the eponymous bear in thePaddingtonfilms. Whishaw also won a Primetime Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for 2018’sA Very English Scandal.
Ben Whishaw’s 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes
From Q in the James Bond movies to Paddington, Ben Whishaw has had some incredible roles. Here are his 10 best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Cloud Atlas
Robert Frobisher
Character: InBlack Doves, Ben Whishaw plays Sam Young, an assassin and old friend of Helen’s. Sam returns to London to help Helen hunt down the people who killed Jason.
Sarah Lancashire As Reed
Date Of Birth: July 26, 2025
Actor: Sarah Lancashire was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom.Lancashire’s breakthrough role was in the long-running soap operaCoronation Street, where she played Raquel Wolstenhulme from 1991 to 1996 and for an episode in 2000. Since then, Lancashire has had an exceptionally successful career in British television, and she’s won three BAFTA awards since 2014, one forLast Tango in Halifaxand two forHappy Valley.
Seeing Red
Coral Atkins
Character: InBlack Doves, Sarah Lancashire plays Reed, the spy mistress of the Black Doves. Reed originally hired Helen to work for the Doves, but their relationship has deteriorated over the years.
Andrew Buchan As Wallace Webb
Date Of Birth: August 07, 2025
Actor: Andrew Buchan was born in Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom.Buchan’s first major role was inGarrow’s Law, where he played William Garrow for three seasons. Since then, Buchan has mostly acted in British television shows and movies likeBroadchurch. Buchan has also had an accomplished career as a voice actor in games likeWarhammer 40,000: Space Marineand theFablefranchise.
All the Money in the World
The ABC Murders
Franklin Clarke
Character: InBlack Doves, Andrew Buchan plays Wallace Webb, the Conservative minister of state for Defense and Helen’s husband. Wallace is unaware that Helen has been selling his secrets to a spy agency for their eight years of marriage, and he’s also unaware that she had an affair with a secret lover. As a politician, Wallace was once an idealist, but has since become hardened by the political system.
Andrew Koji As Jason Davies
Date Of Birth: July 12, 2025
Actor: Andrew Koji was born in Epsom, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.Koji’s biggest role to date was as Ah Sahm inWarriorfrom 2019 to 2023. Koji is a trained martial artist, and he has put his fighting skills to use in a number of action movies, includingSnake Eyes,Bullet Train, andBoy Kills World.
Warrior
Ah Sahm
Character: InBlack Doves, Andrew Koji plays Jason Davies, Helen’s secret lover who is mysteriously killed. Jason accidentally met Helen, but over the years of their affair, he grew to be the one person she felt comfortable being herself around. After Jason’s death, Helen goes on a rogue revenge mission.
Kathryn Hunter As Lenny Lines
Date Of Birth: June 19, 2025
Actor: Kathryn Hunter was born in New York City, New York.Hunter’s breakthrough role was as Arabella Figg inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Hunter also made quite a name for herself in theater, where she earned three Olivier Awards and both acted and directed at the Shakespeare Globe Theater. Hunter has also had a recent resurgence in popularity with shows likeAndor, where she played Eedy Karn, andGrotesquerie, where she played Maisie Montgomery, as well as movies likePoor Things, where she played Swiney.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Orlando
Countess
Character: InBlack Doves, Kathryn Hunter plays Lenny Lines, an assassin master. Lenny works with both Sam and Williams and sends them on jobs.
Black Doves Supporting Cast & Characters
Ella Lily Hyland as Williams: Ella Lily Hyland plays Williams inBlack Doves. Williams is another of Lenny Lines' assassins alongside Sam. Hyland is known forFifteen LoveandSilent Roar.
Gabrielle Creevy as Eleanor: Gabrielle Creevy plays Eleanor inBlack Doves. Eleanor is yet another assassin, but she has a darker sense of humor than her contemporaries. Creevy is known forThree WomenandIn My Skin.
Omari Douglas as Michael: Omari Douglas plays Michael inBlack Doves. Michael knew Jason before he met Helen, and the two men dated rather seriously. Douglas is known forI Hate SuzieandIt’s a Sin.
Luther Ford as Hector: Luther Ford plays Hector inBlack Doves. Hector is a high-ranking member of the Newman crime family, a gang in London. Ford is known for playing Prince Harry inThe Crown.
Paapa Essiedu as Elmore Fitch: Paapa Essiedu plays Elmore Fitch inBlack Doves. Elmore is an ex-member of the British Special Air Service and a reluctant assassin. Essiedu is known forI May Destroy YouandThe Outrun.
Black Doves
Cast
Black Doves is a suspenseful thriller released in December 2024. It follows a spy masquerading as a politician’s wife who, after discovering her lover’s murder, joins forces with an old assassin associate to uncover the truth and seek revenge.
