Black Doves Cast & Character Guide

Netflix’s spy thriller starring Keira Knightley, Black Doves, boasts an impressive cast of deeply talented British actors. Black Doves follows 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, but Black Doves used its star-studded cast to tremendous effect.

Black Doves debuted to a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a large part of its critical success is due to its cast. Reviews for Black Doves have praised Keira Knightley in particular, but also stars like Sarah Lancashire and Ben Whishaw. Even the supporting cast of Black Doves contributed some stellar performances, and they all combined to create one of the best action shows on Netflix. The cast is filled with Oscar, Emmy, and Olivier nominees and winners, and learning more about the actors who made Black Doves what it is will prove exactly why the show works so well.

Keira Knightley As Helen Webb

Date Of Birth: March 26, 1985

Actor: Keira Knightley was born in Teddington, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom. Knightley had her breakthrough role in 2002 with Bend It Like Beckham, where she played Jules. Prior to that, Knightley appeared in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace as Sabé, the body double of Natalie Portman’s Queen Padmé Amidala. Since then, Knightley has gained international fame for both dramas like Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game – both of which earned her Oscar nominations – and major franchises like Pirates of the Carribean.

Character: In Black 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: October 14, 1980

Actor: Ben Whishaw was born in Clifton, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom. Whishaw’s breakthrough role was in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer in 2006, though he also gained fame in 2004 for a production of Hamlet. 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 the Paddington films. Whishaw also won a Primetime Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for 2018’s A Very English Scandal.

Character: In Black 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: October 10, 1964

Actor: Sarah Lancashire was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom. Lancashire’s breakthrough role was in the long-running soap opera Coronation 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 for Last Tango in Halifax and two for Happy Valley.

Character: In Black 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: February 19, 1979

Actor: Andrew Buchan was born in Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. Buchan’s first major role was in Garrow’s Law, where he played William Garrow for three seasons. Since then, Buchan has mostly acted in British television shows and movies like Broadchurch. Buchan has also had an accomplished career as a voice actor in games like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and the Fable franchise.

Character: In Black 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: November 10, 1987

Actor: Andrew Koji was born in Epsom, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. Koji’s biggest role to date was as Ah Sahm in Warrior from 2019 to 2023. Koji is a trained martial artist, and he has put his fighting skills to use in a number of action movies, including Snake Eyes, Bullet Train, and Boy Kills World.

Character: In Black 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: April 9, 1957

Actor: Kathryn Hunter was born in New York City, New York. Hunter’s breakthrough role was as Arabella Figg in Harry 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 like Andor, where she played Eedy Karn, and Grotesquerie, where she played Maisie Montgomery, as well as movies like Poor Things, where she played Swiney.

Character: In Black 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 in Black Doves. Williams is another of Lenny Lines’ assassins alongside Sam. Hyland is known for Fifteen Love and Silent Roar.

Gabrielle Creevy as Eleanor: Gabrielle Creevy plays Eleanor in Black Doves. Eleanor is yet another assassin, but she has a darker sense of humor than her contemporaries. Creevy is known for Three Women and In My Skin.

Omari Douglas as Michael: Omari Douglas plays Michael in Black Doves. Michael knew Jason before he met Helen, and the two men dated rather seriously. Douglas is known for I Hate Suzie and It’s a Sin.

Luther Ford as Hector: Luther Ford plays Hector in Black Doves. Hector is a high-ranking member of the Newman crime family, a gang in London. Ford is known for playing Prince Harry in The Crown.

Paapa Essiedu as Elmore Fitch: Paapa Essiedu plays Elmore Fitch in Black Doves. Elmore is an ex-member of the British Special Air Service and a reluctant assassin. Essiedu is known for I May Destroy You and The Outrun.