Keira Knightley's 6-Episode Spy Thriller On Netflix Is Better Than Her Recent Movies

Keira Knightley has remained one of the most recognizable and respected actors of her generation, and Netflix's six-episode spy thriller proves why. Known for her refined performances, Keira Knightley has been dazzling audiences since her acting debut in 1993. However, while many of her recent theatrical roles have endured a modest reception, her foray into streaming television has proven to be a far more compelling showcase of her talent, reminding audiences why she’s a force to be reckoned with.

While spy thrillers are a dime a dozen, there’s something undeniably captivating about Black Doves, from its story of a spy avenging her secret lover's death to its action and high-stakes drama. In Netflix’s Black Doves, Knightley, who takes on the role of Helen Webb, delivers one of her most compelling performances. Across its six tightly constructed episodes, the spy series blends espionage and dark comedy with such finesse that it's all too easy to binge the show in one sitting.

That’s not to say that Knightley’s recent acting projects have been terrible. Black Doves is just better. The show’s writing is solid, the dialogue is sharp, and the action, though not present in every scene, is hard to look away from. Perhaps why Black Doves is easily Knightley’s best acting project in the past six years is the duality of her character and how easily she shifts between Helen Webb's two lives. On the one hand, she’s a loving wife and a doting mother, and on the other hand, she’s a cunning spy who can kill anyone in cold blood.

Keira Knightley's Black Doves Beats Her Last 4 Movies

Since 2021, Knightley has starred in four movies, all of which have had lukewarm receptions from audiences and critics alike. Her 2020 film, Misbehaviour, debuted to critical acclaim but earned roughly $2 million, while her 2021 movie, Silent Night, a dark holiday comedy co-starring Matthew Goode, received middling reviews.

Two years after Silent Night debuted, Knightley went on to portray real-life journalist Loretta McLaughlin in Boston Strangler, a Hulu original movie about the city's most notorious serial killer. Most recently, Knightley took on the role of Laura Blacklock in Netflix's film adaptation of Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel, The Woman in Cabin 10, a thriller about a reporter who uncovers a dangerous secret while onboard a luxury cruise. The latter earned a painfully low Rotten Tomatoes critics' and audience score.

Compared to Knightley’s past four movies, Black Doves was a massive critical and audience success. The TV show boasts a 91% critics' score and a respectable 65% rating on the audience's Popcornmeter. Black Doves is obviously wildly different from Knightley's other recent projects, but that's precisely what makes it exciting to watch. Knightley nails her role as a spy, balancing the right amount of vulnerability and general badassery, thriving in the show's action-packed, fast-paced drama. Her chemistry with co-star Ben Whishaw is also a massive part of the show's appeal. It's no wonder Black Doves was renewed for a second season.

Keira Knightley's 2020 Movie, Misbehaviour, Was Criminally Overlooked

Based on the true events of the 1970 Miss World competition in London, where a group of feminist activists disrupts the live televised pageant to protest the objectification of women, Misbehaviour is probably one of Keira Knightley’s best and, at the same time, overlooked movies. Though it's a completely different type of story in a wildly different genre, it's just as good as Black Doves and deserves to be rediscovered. After all, Knightley always shines in period pieces, no matter the era.

Misbehaviour is one of the most moving and impactful movies of the past 10 years, and its story is just as relevant today as it was in the 70s. Sadly, many don’t even know it exists, despite its high-profile cast. Starring alongside Knightley are Loki's Gugu Mbatha-Raw, recent Oscar winner Jessie Buckley, Bodyguard's Keeley Hawes, and even Greg Kinnear as the one and only Bob Hope.

The main reason the film was overlooked and didn’t generate enough buzz was timing. Misbehaviour premiered in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down cinemas worldwide. With its theatrical run cut short, it was quickly pushed to video-on-demand, limiting its visibility and box office impact.

With Knightley giving one of the best performances of her career in Netflix’s Black Doves, hopefully, it has enticed audiences to look back at what the actor has been up to in the past six years. Misbehaviour may not have been a box office success, and it's not what anyone would call a perfect movie, but it is still worthy of the praise it received.