Black Doves season 1: Full list of cast explored

Black Doves season 1 is a British spy thriller series created by Joe Barton. It focuses on an undercover agent, Helen Webb, whose double life stands the risk of being exposed after her secret lover gets killed. The series features six episodes and is slated to release on December 5, 2024, on Netflix.

The show's official logline, as per Netflix, reads:

"When a spy posing as a politician's wife learns her lover has been murdered, an old assassin friend joins her on a quest for truth — and vengeance."

Keira Knightley leads the cast of Black Doves season 1

1) Keira Knightley as Helen Webb

An image of Keira Knightley from Black Doves season 1 (Image via Netflix)

In Black Doves season 1, Keira Knightley plays Helen Webb, an undercover agent working for the secret Black Doves organization. Her duties require her to steal government secrets from her politician husband, Wallace Webb, with whom she shares two children. Following the murder of her lover, Jason, Helen teams up with former colleague Sam Young to uncover his killer.

The Oscar-nominated actress is best known for starring in films such as Bend It Like Beckham, Love Actually, Never Let Me Go, The Imitation Game, etc. Keira gained worldwide fame for her role as Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean film trilogy (2003-2007).

She has worked with Joe Wright in acclaimed films such as Pride & Prejudice in 2005, Atonement in 2007, and Anna Karenina in 2012.

On television, the English actress has appeared in the miniseries Oliver Twist and Doctor Zhivago. Keira has also lent her voice to animated shows like Totally Spies!, Neverland, and Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind.

2) Sarah Lancashire as Reed

Sarah Lancashire as seen in Black Doves season 1 (Image via Instagram/@blackdovesnetflix)

Sarah Lancashire plays the spymaster Reed in Netflix's thriller series. She was the one to recruit Helen into the Black Doves and sends in the assassin Sam to help protect Helen and her family in the aftermath of Jason's murder. She shares a somewhat maternal relationship with her protege, Helen.

Sarah Lancashire is best known to television audiences for her role as Raquel Watts in the soap opera Coronation Street in the 1990s. Her other noteworthy performances include playing Angela Howard in the miniseries MotherFatherSon and Julia Child in HBO's comedy drama, Julia.

Moreover, Sarah's film credits include Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Yesterday, Dad's Army, When Did You Last See Your Father?, and S*x, the City and Me.

3) Ben Whishaw as Sam Young

Ben Whishaw plays the assassin Sam Young in Black Doves season 1 (Image via Instagram/@blackdovesnetflix)

Ben Whishaw plays the assassin Sam Young, who is called upon to protect his old friend Helen and her family as she tries to hunt down Jason's killers.

Ben's most prominent film role was playing Q, opposite Daniel Craig as the world-renowned spy, in the James Bond films Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die. His other notable films include The Danish Girl, Mary Poppins Returns, In the Heart of the Sea, Limonov: The Ballad, and Women Talking, to name a few.

Furthermore, he has voiced the Paddington Bear in Paul King's comedy films, Paddington and its sequel, Paddington 2.

Between 2011 and 2012, Ben starred in the BBC drama series The Hour as Freddie Lyon. He also starred in FX's black comedy series Fargo as Rabbi Milligan and in the medical miniseries This Is Going to Hurt as Adam Kay.

4) Andrew Koji as Jason Davies

Andrew Koji as seen in Black Doves season 1 (Image via Tudum by Netflix)

Andrew Koji plays Jason Davies, Helen's lover, in Black Doves season 1. His death sparks Helen and Sam's investigation into a plot linking London's underworld to a major geopolitical crisis. A trained martial artist, Koji also starred as Ah Sahm in the series Warrior (2019–2023), showcasing his martial arts expertise.

Koji's film roles include playing Tomisaburo Arashikage / Storm Shadow in the superhero film Snake Eyes, Yuichi Kimura in the Brad Pitt-starrer Bullet Train, and Basho in the action comedy Boy Kills World, among others.

He has also had roles in popular shows like Peaky Blinders, American Gods, The Innocents, Call the Midwife, The Wrong Mans, etc.

Also Read: Is Black Doves season 2 happening? Renewal status explored

Other supporting cast members of Black Doves season 1 include: