If you’ve spent any time on Netflix recently, you’ve probably seen a woman with a sharp fringe and an even sharper Irish accent absolutely stealing scenes from Keira Knightley. That’s Ella Lily Hyland. Honestly, she kind of came out of nowhere for most people, but if you look at her track record, she’s been putting in the work for years. She’s the kind of actor who makes you forget you're watching a scripted show. Whether she’s playing a disgraced tennis prodigy or a dry-witted hitwoman, there’s this raw, "I don't care if you like me" energy that is basically impossible to look away from.
People are suddenly scrambled to find all the Ella Lily Hyland movies and tv shows they can stream because she has that "it" factor. It's not just that she's good—it's that she's different. In an industry full of polished, PR-managed personalities, Hyland feels like a real person who just happened to wander onto a film set and decided to be better than everyone else there.
From Carlow to the Center of the Screen
Ella Lily Hyland didn't start out in some Hollywood bootcamp. She’s from Carlow, Ireland. She grew up in a sporty family—her grandad and uncle were pole vaulters, and she actually competed in it too. That athleticism isn't just a fun fact; it’s basically the reason she looks so believable in her physical roles. You can see it in how she moves. She eventually trained at The Lir Academy in Dublin, which is the same place that churned out stars like Paul Mescal and Alison Oliver.
Her transition from the stage to the screen happened fast. Like, really fast. Most actors spend a decade playing "Coffee Shop Patron #3," but Hyland jumped almost immediately into heavy-hitting dramas.
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The Breakout: Fifteen-Love
The first time many of us saw her was in the Amazon Prime series Fifteen-Love (2023). If you haven't seen it, go watch it. It’s intense. She plays Justine Pearce, a former tennis star whose career ended with a nasty injury at the French Open.
The show is a #MeToo drama that explores the messy, dark power dynamic between Justine and her coach, Glenn Lapthorn (played by Aidan Turner). Hyland is mesmerizing here. She captures that specific brand of "bruised but bitter" that comes with being a child athlete who lost everything. She actually trained with former pro Naomi Cavaday to make the tennis scenes look legit, which explains why she doesn't look like a total amateur with a racket.
Critics basically fell over themselves praising her. The Guardian called her performance "absolutely superlative." What made it work was that she didn't play Justine as a simple victim. She made her complicated, sometimes unlikeable, and totally human.
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Stealing the Show in Black Doves
Then came Black Doves. This is the one that really blew things up.
Streaming on Netflix, the show is a Christmas-themed spy thriller set in London. You've got Keira Knightley as a spy and Ben Whishaw as an assassin. And then there's Hyland as Williams.
Williams is... a lot. She’s a killer for hire who’s basically a sociopath but in a fun, quirky way? Hyland has described the character as "dark and menacing, but also very playful." She based the performance on Maura Higgins from Love Island, which is such a genius, specific choice. The deadpan delivery of lines like her sarcastic retort about using a "fanny pad" for a gunshot wound became instant memes.
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Even though she’s sharing the screen with legends, she became the "breakout star" that everyone talked about. It's the kind of performance that guarantees a Season 2 (which is already happening, by the way).
What Else is on the Filmography?
While Fifteen-Love and Black Doves are the big ones, there's more to dig into if you're a fan:
- Silent Roar (2023): This is a weird, beautiful Scottish film about surfing and grief. Hyland plays Sas, a girl she describes as the "fire element" to the lead character's "water." It’s offbeat and artsy, showing a totally different side of her.
- Towards Zero (2025): She recently took on Agatha Christie. Playing Audrey Strange in this BBC miniseries, she swapped her Irish accent for a posh English one. She described the character as "twisted, nihilistic, and hedonistic."
- A Thousand Blows: Keep an eye out for this one on Disney+. It’s a historical drama from Steven Knight (the Peaky Blinders creator) about the 1880s boxing scene. She plays Marianne Goodson.
- Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania: A very long title for a very interesting film. She plays Emma in this one.
Why She’s the One to Watch in 2026
The reason Ella Lily Hyland movies and tv shows are trending isn't just because she’s in big projects. It's because she brings a level of authenticity that’s rare. She’s gone on record saying she wants to tell working-class, small-town Irish stories, and she’s even writing her own material. She’s not just an actor for hire; she’s an artist with a specific perspective.
In Black Doves, she had to do stunt training and handle real guns (shooting blanks, obviously). She called it "gas"—Irish slang for fun. That’s the vibe. She’s having a blast, she’s incredibly talented, and she’s not trying to be anyone but herself.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch Fifteen-Love on Prime Video: If you only know her from Black Doves, this is the best way to see her range. It’s a much more grounded, emotional performance.
- Binge Black Doves on Netflix: Pay attention to her timing. The way she plays off Ben Whishaw is a masterclass in chemistry.
- Check out Silent Roar: If you want something more "indie" and atmospheric, this film is a hidden gem in her filmography.
- Follow her upcoming work: Look for Towards Zero on BBC iPlayer/Masterpiece and A Thousand Blows on Disney+ to see her move into high-budget period pieces.
Ella Lily Hyland is clearly just getting started. If 2024 and 2025 were her "breakout" years, 2026 is shaping up to be the year she becomes a household name. Keep an eye on her—she's likely to be the next big Irish export to conquer Hollywood.