Black Doves Cast Celebrates Regional Accents on Netflix
Actresses Gabrielle Creevy and Ella Lily Hyland highlight the significance of bringing their native Welsh and Irish identities to the spy thriller series.
The upcoming season of the Netflix spy thriller Black Doves features prominent performances from regional actresses who are bringing their authentic voices to the global stage. Co-stars Gabrielle Creevy and Ella Lily Hyland have spoken about the importance of representing their Welsh and Irish accents in the high-profile drama series.
The show stars Keira Knightley as Helen Webb, a professional spy working for a shadowy London-based organization named the Black Doves. Creevy plays the character of Eleanor, while Hyland portrays Williams, with both characters working as assassins in the gripping narrative.
Creevy, a 30-year-old actress from Port Talbot, initially auditioned for the role using her natural Welsh accent. After the production team responded positively, writer Joe Barton adapted the dialogue to seamlessly incorporate her background, even adding specific references to Bridgend into the script.
Reflecting on the experience, Creevy explained that growing up she rarely heard her native accent represented on television. She noted that having her voice featured on a major platform like Netflix feels like a massive achievement and a source of personal pride.
Similarly, 28-year-old Irish actress Ella Lily Hyland, who hails from Carlow, embraced the opportunity to use her own accent in the production. Hyland remarked that actors often try to distance themselves from their personal characteristics, making the inclusion of regional voices a unique privilege.
Hyland stated that these specific accents are infrequently heard on screen, emphasizing that representing them on such a large platform feels particularly rewarding. Alongside Knightley, the cast also features acclaimed performers such as Sarah Lancashire and Ben Whishaw.
Creevy expressed her awe at working alongside such a seasoned cast, describing the experience of watching her fellow actors as a masterclass. Creevy's previous credits include the BBC coming-of-age drama In My Skin and the thriller The Guest, while Hyland is known for starring in the BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie's Towards Zero.
The second season of Black Doves is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on November 5.