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Black Doves stars Ambika Mod and Keira Knightley address "gaps and divides" in Helen and Laila's relationship for season 2

Mod also presented a surprising theory about Laila's guiding ideology.

Published: Thursday, 5 November 2026 at 3:02 pm

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Black Doves co-stars Keira Knightley and Ambika Mod have addressed the root causes of a clash between their two characters in Netflix's spy thriller.

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Season 2 picks up with undercover agent Helen Webb (Knightley) on a mission in Paris when she is suddenly introduced to Laila (Ambika Mod) – a brash former spy turned assassin for hire.

It's very quickly apparent that they aren't going to get along, as evidenced by their stinging back-and-forth, with Knightley going so far as to say Laila is "horrible" to Helen in the action-packed opening.

Explaining the clash, Mod told Radio Times: "I think there is a generational thing between Helen and Laila.

"There are a lot of gaps and divides between them, and I think that comes out especially in their first scene together. She roasts Helen quite a lot."

Mod laughed: "It's really satisfying. But I think that's the freshness that Laila brings to the show, and the fact that she is a bit of an enigma.

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"She stays a bit of an enigma throughout the series, to be honest. But I'd be fascinated to find out more about where she came from and what her deal is and why she's there."

The One Day star theorised that their feud could also stem from a difference in worldview, with Knightley describing Helen as "pure capitalist" while Mod imagines something "quite socialist" about Laila.

That may come as a surprise given Laila's taste for luxuries, from designer clothes to her collection of trainers and even a drum kit, all housed in a spacious central London flat.

"Yeah, it's really confusing," conceded Mod. "I think, ultimately, she is out for herself. Whether that manifests in hyper-capitalism, I'm unsure."

"This is season 3," she joked. "We'll find out about Laila's activism."

Mod is a new recruit to the Black Doves cast for season 2, along with Scream queen Neve Campbell and Alien: Earth's Babou Ceesay, while returning stars include Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire.

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Black Doves season 2 is out now on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of David Craig, smiling against a lime green background.

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

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