Black Doves cast list: Who plays who in the Netflix thriller led by Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw
By Helen Fear | Mon Dec 02 2024Black Doves is THE thriller to watch this December on Netflix, not least because of the jaw-dropping cast of talent. Two words: Sarah Lancashire.
The Happy Valley legend plays a character unlike one she's ever played before - enigmatic spymaster Reed. And the six-parter is worth watching for her performance alone. Trust us.
British stars Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw also lead the cast of the spy drama, and there's an equally impressive list of supporting actors.
So who's in the cast of the Netflix series Black Doves, and where do you recognise them from...? Here's everything you need to know.
Black Doves cast list: Sarah Lancashire plays Reed
The ridiculously talented Sarah Lancashire, 60, stars as Helen's spymaster, the enigmatic Reed. Imagine someone with the attitude of badass Catherine Cawood, only posher, and wearing a beautiful coat.
Sarah's been on our screens for nearly four decades. Playing foul-mouthed Sergeant Cawood in Happy Valley was arguably her finest hour, but she has dozens of notches on her CV.
Of course, Coronation Street fans will know her as Raquel Watts in the ITV soap, a role she played from 1987 to 2000.
The Lancashire-born actress went on to portray Yvonne Kolakowski in Clocking Off, Rose Linden in Rose and Maloney, and Mrs. Corney in Oliver Twist.
Sarah's also known for starring as Ruth Goddard in Where the Heart Is, Laura in Lark Rise to Candleford, Miriam Grayson in Kiri, and Caroline in Last Tango in Halifax. We'd watch her watching paint dry to be honest.
Most recently, Sarah portrayed American chef and author Julia Child in the BAFTA-winning Sky Max Original series Julia. The drama was inspired by Julia's extraordinary life and her show The French Chef, which is credited with inventing food television.
Keira Knightley portrays Helen Webb
Netflix thriller Black Doves follows Helen Webb, a professional spy who is also described as "a quick-witted and dedicated wife and mother".
Keira Knightley plays the spy, who for 10 years has been passing on her husband's secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves.
Of course, Keira found global fame in the 2002 film Bend it Like Beckham, alongside DI Ray's Parminder Nagra (although she'd been on our screens since 1993 in smaller roles).
She went on to appear in the hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Her other famous film roles include Juliet in Love Actually, Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, and Cecilia Tallis in the heartbreaking Atonement.
The 39-year-old London-born actress has actually done very little TV in the past 20 years. Black Doves marks her first return to the small screen since she played Lara Antipova in the 2002 series Doctor Zhivago. Although she did provide the voice for Tinker Bell in the mini-series Neverland in 2011, she didn't appear on screen.
Black Doves cast list on Netflix: Andrew Buchan stars as Wallace Webb
Helen's husband Wallace Webb is a high-profile politician who has no idea his wife betraying him in more ways than one...
Andrew Buchan, 45, stars as Wallace. The Stockport-born actor has been on our screens ever since 2006, when he played Marcus in the TV movie If I Had You.
He went on to play St. John Rivers in Jane Eyre, Scott Foster in Party Animals, John Mercer in The Fixer, and Jem Hearne in Cranford. He also portrayed Joseph in the biblical mini-series The Nativity in 2010.
Between 2009 and 2011, Andrew starred as William Garrow in period drama Garrow's Law. But he's perhaps best known for playing Mark Latimer in series 1 to 3 of Broadchurch.
Other notable roles include Ephra Stein in The Honourable Woman, Thomas Farriner in The Great Fire, Mikulas Vir in Carnival Row, Chris Edwards in COBRA, and Felim Bichan in Industry.
Recently, he's also portrayed some real like figures, including Andrew Parker Bowles in The Crown, and Matt Hancock in This England.
In 2023, his personal life somewhat overshadowed his career, when he reportedly had an affair with his Better co-star Leila Farzad. His marriage to former Emmerdale actress Amy Nuttall subsequently broke down.
Andrew recently made his screenwriting debut with ITV's Passenger, which he also created.
Ben Whishaw portrays Sam
When Helen's secret lover Jason is assassinated, Helen's spymaster Reed calls in Helen's old friend Sam to keep her safe.
Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why.
Bedfordshire-born Ben Whishaw, 44, portrays Sam, a hitman (with a conscience). Another fierce British talent, Ben is known for playing Q in three of the Daniel Craig Bond films - Spectre, Skyfall, and No Time To Die.
His most famous TV roles include Freddie Lyon in The Hour, by The Split creator Abi Morgan, Danny in London Spy, Norman Scott in A Very English Scandal, and overworked doctor Adam in the heartbreaking This Is Going to Hurt.
Of course, he's also the voice of Paddington Bear in the three successful Paddington films, and the animation The Adventures of Paddington.
Black Doves cast list on Netflix: Adeel Akhtar stars as Prime Minister Richard Eaves
Another cracking actor in the line-up, Adeel Akhtar is one of our small screen faves. He plays British Prime Minister Richard Eaves - and he had to shave his usually present beard off for the role.
Quite a difference to his role as incompetent terrorist Faisal in the comedy film Four Lions, a role that catapulted him to fame in 2010.
London-born Adeel, 44, recently played Sam Malik, an anxious defence solicitor with a reputation for winning lost causes in Showtrial.
He's also known for playing Ray in Trollied, Wilson in Utopia, George Dhot in The Job Lot, and DS Ira King in the Nicola Walker police drama River (we're still gutted there wasn't a second series).
In 2016, Adeel starred as Rob Singhal in The Night Manager, before playing Hassan Mahmoud in Unforgotten, Barry Shaw in Ghosted, and Thénardier in Les Misérables.
More recently, he's played Billy in sweet comedy Back to Life, Martin in Killing Eve, Andy Fisher in Sherwood series 1, DS Sami Kierce in Netflix thriller Fool Me Once, and Dr. Aditya Singh in Sweet Tooth.
Adeel has also been in multitudes of films, including Enola Holmes and its sequel, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, and The Last Dragonslayer.
Omari Douglas plays Michael
Actor Omari Douglas stars as Sam's ex-boyfriend Michael in the cast of Black Doves.
Wolverhampton-born Omari, 30, has been on our screens ever since 2019, when he played Show Girl Nora in the Wise Children.
His breakthrough performance was arguably in 2021, when he played Roscoe Babatunde in the poignant drama It's a Sin. The Russell T. Davies series, which aired on Channel 4, took us back to the early 80s as the HIV virus took hold of the UK.
A year later, Omari starred as Holland Fitz-Henry in the Billie Piper comedy drama I Hate Suzie, before playing Bruce in Nolly.
His film roles include Mona in Rye Lane, and he played artist JB in the theatre production of A Little Life.
Black Doves cast list on Netflix: Tracey Ullman is Alex
Comedian-turned-straight actor Tracey Ullman plays Alex Clark in the cast of spy thriller Black Doves - and it's an inspired choice.
We're not going to spoil your fun by revealing the identity of her character but, like Sarah Lancashire's Reed, Tracey isn't playing to type.
TV viewers of a certain age (cough, cough) will know her from the 80s and 90s, when she had her own sketch show. She also starred opposite Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, and Ruby Wax in the sitcom Girls on Top in 1985.
The Slough-born entertainer, 64, made it big in America, and has appeared in US sitcoms including Ally McBeal, Will & Grace, How I Met Your Mother, and Girls.
Between 2008 and 2010, she fronted State of the Union, her own satirical look at life in America. Tracey went on to write and star in Tracey Breaks the News, and Tracey Ullman's Show. More recently, she's portrayed Irma Kostroski in Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Betty Friedan in Cate Blanchett historical drama Mrs America.
Paapa Essiedu stars as Elmore Fitch in Black Doves cast
London-born actor Paapa Essiedu portrays assassin Elmore Fitch in the cast of Black Doves on Netflix.
Paapa, 34, is perhaps best known for playing Kwame in I May Destroy You, and Isaac Turner in The Capture opposite Strike's Holliday Grainger.
He's also famous for portraying George Addo in The Lazarus Project, a role he played from 2022 to 2023, and Alexander Dumani in Gangs of London.
Other notable roles include Otto in The Miniaturist, Nate Akindele in Kiri, Ed Washburn in Press, and George Boleyn in Anne Boleyn. In 2023, he starred as Gaap in the Black Mirror episode Demon 79.
He's also been on films including The Outrun, Genie, Men, and Murder on the Orient Express. Paapa is also known for his theatre work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Black Doves cast: Kathryn Hunter stars as Lenny Lines
Actress Kathryn Hunter - born as Aikaterini Hadjipateras - portrays Lenny Lines in the Netflix thriller.
The 67-year-old American suffered a terrible car accident while she was a student at RADA which left her with a broken back, pelvis and arm, a smashed elbow, a crushed foot and a collapsed lung. She was told she would never walk again and was left with a crooked back, a bent elbow and a permanent limp. In 2022, she told The Independent it was a suicide attempt.
She's been on our screens ever since 1990, when she appeared in the TV movie Anything for a Quiet Life. Between 2005 and 2006, she played Charmian in Rome, before going on to portray Wendy in Flowers, Capi Petridis in Black Earth Rising, and Madame Victurnien in Les Misérables.
More recently, she starred as Tabitha Edwards in Landscapers, Eedy Karn in Andor, and Maisie Montgomery in Grotesquerie. Her film roles have included Teresa Cicero in Megalopolis, Swiney in Poor Things, and Solange in The Front Room.
Of course, Harry Potter fans will know Kathryn as Mrs. Arabella Figg in 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Who else is in the cast of Black Doves on Netflix?
Meanwhile, Luther Ford stars as criminal Hector Newman. He's a relative newcomer to TV, but The Crown fans will recognise him for playing Prince Harry.
Chernobyl's Sam Troughton portrays politician Stephen Yarrick. He's been on our screens for decades, and is famous for his roles in Robin Hood (he played Much), The Trial of Christine Keeler, and The Outlaws. Recently, he portrayed Dr. Samson in The Lazarus Project opposite his Black Doves co-star
Paapa Essiedu, and Donal McCabe in A Very Royal Scandal.
Agatha Christie's Towards Zero star Ella Lily Hyland is assassin Williams. The Irish actress also known for playing Justine Pearce opposite Rivals' Aidan Turner.
Shardlake's Ken Nwosu plays Wallace's colleague Bill. Ken recently starred as Sagramor in The Winter King.
The Pact's Gabrielle Creevy portrays hitwoman Eleanor. The Welsh actress is also known for playing Bethan Gwyndaf in In My Skin.
Actor Finn Bennett also stars in the cast of Black Doves. He stars as the CIA agent implicated in the disappearance of his girlfriend. Finn recently played Peter Prior in the brilliant anthology series True Detective. Before that, he starred as Si Warner opposite his Black Doves co-star Sarah Lancashire in Kiri.
Adam Silver also stars in the spy series, playing Arnie. He's known for portraying Howard in The Diplomat, Murray in Eric, and Lt. David Solomon in Masters of the Air.
Andrew Koji plays Helen's assassinated lover Jason. He's known for playing Andrew in The Innocents, Brilliant Chang in Peaky Blinders, and Ah Sahm in Warrior.
Misfits star Nathan Stewart-Jarrett portrays Sam's friend Zach.
Baby reindeer star Thomas Coombes stars as journalist Phillip Bray.
Child stars Charlotte Rice-Foley and Taylor Sullivan portray Helen and Wallace's twins Jacqueline and Oliver Webb.
Gentleman Jack's Callum Coates portrays Thomas.
Isabella Wei stars as the Chinese Ambassador's missing daughter Kai-Ming. She previously played Posy Li in Bridgerton.
Call the Midwife's Molly Chesworth portrays Helen's nanny Marie.
Dan Li portrays Chang Hao. He recently played Toni Zhang in Red Eye.
Wolf Hall's Hannah Khalique-Brown stars as Maggie.
Ridley Road's Agnes O'Casey plays Wallace's new assistant Dani.
