Ella Lily Hyland, the 28-year-old actress from Co Carlow, said performing in her own accent in the second season of the Netflix spy thriller Black Doves was a privilege, describing the experience as a homecoming of sorts for an artist who grew up rarely hearing Irish voices on screen. Her comments were reported by RTE.ie on 6 November 2026.
Hyland stars as the assassin Williams opposite Keira Knightley, who plays Helen Webb, a professional spy working for the shadowy London-based organisation the Black Doves. Season two of the series is available to stream on Netflix now.
A Carlow voice on a global platform
For Hyland, the chance to keep her native accent was more than a technical detail. It was a statement about who gets to be seen and heard.
“Growing up not seeing your own accent represented on screen, and then having the opportunity to do that yourself, is incredibly special,” she said.
She admitted the experience brought some nerves at first.
“At first, it can feel a little daunting because you're not sure how it's going to come across.
“But our accents are so distinctive, and I love that they allowed us to keep them and wrote for them so beautifully, too.”
Hyland trained at Dublin's Lir Academy, whose alumni include Paul Mescal and Alison Oliver. She said drama school can push young actors to quietly erase parts of themselves in order to belong.
“Because you want it so much, and acting is your dream, when you go away to train, you can subconsciously feel that you need to change or alter something about yourself to fit in,” she said.
“I don't think any young actor should ever feel that way.
“Everyone should be encouraged to embrace their authenticity, because that's such an important part of their artistry and creativity.
“At this stage in my career, it feels really lovely to come home to that space and embrace that part of myself.
“It means the world to have the opportunity to do that, genuinely.”
Why does accent representation matter on screen?
Hyland's words speak to something bigger than one performance. Irish accents, and regional accents generally, have long been filtered out of mainstream screen drama, flattened into vague approximations or replaced altogether with standard English. When a production as visible as Black Doves writes for a Carlow accent rather than around it, the door opens a little wider for the next generation of Irish talent.
Hyland and her co-star also praised series writer Joe Barton for subverting gender stereotypes and creating more complex, authentic female characters.
“As a woman, it's wonderful to be able to play those roles without feeling that you have to change yourself to fit into outdated archetypes or boxes,” said Hyland.
“You can just be yourself and explore all those possibilities. I think that's incredibly freeing.”
Coverage in the Ludlow Advertiser highlighted the pair's challenge to the idea that assassins on screen must sound a certain way, asking why there cannot be a Welsh assassin and an Irish assassin.
A rising career built on Irish stages
Hyland is also known for starring in the BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie's Towards Zero, opposite Anjelica Huston and Clarke Peters. Her co-star Creevy is best known for her roles in the coming-of-age series In My Skin and the BBC thriller The Guest, and she also appears in the upcoming supernatural drama series The Witch Farm. EVOKE reported that the Irish star felt a genuine sense of pride in representing her accent on screen, and that keeping it felt important to her portrayal.
For young actors in Carlow, in Dublin, and across the island, Hyland's example carries a simple message. The voice you grew up with is not an obstacle to a career on the world stage. It can be part of what gets you there.
Black Doves season two is streaming on Netflix now.
Frequently asked questions
Who does Ella Lily Hyland play in Black Doves?
She plays Williams, an assassin, opposite Keira Knightley's Helen Webb, a spy working for the London-based organisation the Black Doves.
Where is Ella Lily Hyland from?
She is from Co Carlow and trained at Dublin's Lir Academy.
Where can I watch Black Doves season two?
Season two is available to stream on Netflix now.