 Movie Cast: Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender lead as elite agents, joined by Regé‑Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke, and Pierce Brosnan in this sleek spy thriller.){kind=link}
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Black Bag premiered theatrically in the United States on March 14, 2025.
Distributed in the United States by Focus Features.
Movie Review
Black Bag proves Steven Soderbergh still masters the art of the lean, high-stakes spy thriller.
Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett sizzle as George and Kathryn, a married MI6 duo forced to question loyalty when a cyber-weapon leaks.
The bulk of the film unfolds at a tense dinner party where whispered accusations and truth-serum shots replace bullets, yet stakes feel life-or-death.
Regé-Jean Page and Pierce Brosnan add gravitas as colleagues with hidden agendas, while Naomie Harris injects moral urgency as a tech specialist caught between duty and conscience.
Clocking in at just 94 minutes, Black Bag moves with the precision of a Swiss watch, every scene sharp, every line weighted.
Viewers should expect clever dialogue, a sultry visual palette, and a smart commentary on trust and betrayal.
Ratings
• IMDb: 6.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
• Google Audience Score: 67% liked this movie.
Black Bag Actors
Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse
DOB: April 2, 1977
Bio: Michael Fassbender, born in Heidelberg, Germany, and raised in Killarney, Ireland, is a versatile actor celebrated for his emotionally immersive performances.
A graduate of Drama Centre London, Fassbender rose to prominence with bold, complex roles that challenge both audience and actor alike.
Role: George Woodhouse is a veteran British spy whose composed demeanor conceals a life of secrets and betrayal.
He serves as the story’s emotional anchor, grappling with shifting loyalties and the cost of past decisions.
What to Expect: Intense psychological chess matches, quietly devastating moments of regret, and a revelation that reframes the entire plot.
Favorite Things: Fassbender clears his mind between filming by kayaking through Ireland’s lakes, finding peace in nature to contrast his often-intense roles.
Notable Works: Inglourious Basterds, 12 Years a Slave, Steve Jobs.
Cate Blanchett as Kathryn St. Jean
DOB: May 14, 1969
Bio: Cate Blanchett, born in Melbourne, Australia, trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and quickly rose to become one of the most revered actresses of her generation.
Renowned for her commanding screen presence and chameleon-like range, she has effortlessly navigated both big-budget epics and intimate character-driven films, earning widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards.
Role: Kathryn St. Jean is a senior MI6 strategist whose steely calm masks a razor-sharp mind.
Operating from the shadows, she plays a delicate game of diplomacy, control, and survival in a world riddled with deception.
What to Expect: Razor-sharp decisions, cryptic reassurances, and an unexpected emotional breakthrough.
Favorite Things: Blanchett often retreats to her garden to tend native Australian plants for relaxation.
Notable Works: Elizabeth, Blue Jasmine, The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Marisa Abela as Clarissa Dubose
DOB: December 7, 1996
Bio: Born in Brighton, England, Marisa Abela trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Initially considering a career in law, she ultimately followed her love of storytelling into acting.
Her nuanced performances have earned industry praise, including a BAFTA TV Award nomination, and she continues to rise as one of Britain’s most compelling young talents.
Role: Clarissa Dubose is a sharp-minded intelligence analyst whose commitment to truth uncovers a dangerous conspiracy.
Her tenacity becomes both a weapon and a vulnerability as she navigates the web of secrets within the agency.
What to Expect: Fierce intelligence, moral conflict as she balances duty and conscience, and a defining act of courage.
Favorite Things: Abela loves sketching portraits of her co-stars in her trailer between scenes.
Notable Works: Industry, Back to Black, Cobra.
Tom Burke as Freddie Smalls
DOB: June 30, 1981
Bio: Born in London into a theatrical family, Tom Burke trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he developed a reputation for complex, emotionally rich performances.
Before making his mark on screen, Burke captivated audiences on the West End and at the National Theatre.
Role: Freddie Smalls is an undercover operative embedded deep within a volatile network.
While his laid-back demeanor and quick wit disarm enemies and allies alike, beneath the surface lies a man carrying the burden of past betrayals.
What to Expect: Wry banter, unexpected loyalty, and a heroic moment that reshapes the finale.
Favorite Things: Burke often sails model ships to unwind after intense shooting days.
Notable Works: The Musketeers, The Souvenir, Only God Forgives.
Naomie Harris as Dr. Zoe Vaughan
DOB: September 6, 1976
Bio: Raised in London, Naomie Harris graduated from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and quickly established herself as a dynamic performer in British television before breaking into Hollywood.
Known for her ability to convey both emotional nuance and strength.
Role: Dr. Zoe Vaughan is the agency’s chief medical officer, calm under pressure, resourceful in the field, and burdened with a secret that could compromise everything.
What to Expect: Steady compassion, tense life-and-death decisions, and a secret she must protect at all costs.
Favorite Things: Harris trains in kickboxing regularly, which she credits for building not just stamina, but the focus required to inhabit characters under pressure.
Notable Works: Skyfall, Moonlight, 28 Days Later, No Time to Die.
Regé-Jean Page as Colonel James Stokes
DOB: April 27, 1988
Bio: Born in London to Zimbabwean and English parents, Regé-Jean Page grew up between the UK and Southern Africa, bringing a rich cultural background to his craft.
A graduate of Drama Centre London, he gained international fame as the dashing Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton, becoming a global breakout star.
Role: A military liaison whose strategic mind is matched only by his personal code, he elevates the film’s stakes.
What to Expect: Precise tactics, unflinching courage under fire, and an evolving friendship with Fassbender’s Woodhouse.
Favorite Things: Page is an avid mountain biker and regularly trains on secluded trails to stay grounded and focused, especially during intense filming periods.
Notable Works: Bridgerton, The Gray Man, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, For the People.
Pierce Brosnan as Arthur Stieglitz
DOB: May 16, 1953
Bio: Hailing from Drogheda, Ireland, Pierce Brosnan trained at the Drama Centre London and first rose to fame with Remington Steele.
He became a global icon portraying James Bond across four films, redefining the character with a blend of elegance, charm, and edge.
Role: Arthur Stieglitz is the shadowy director of the intelligence agency, his calm demeanor belies a lifetime of secrets.
What to Expect: Commanding presence, cryptic guidance, and a final gambit that tests loyalties.
Favorite Things: Brosnan finds solace in abstract painting, often retreating to his Malibu studio to express himself creatively between filming projects.
Notable Works: GoldenEye, The Thomas Crown Affair, MobLand, Mamma Mia!, Tomorrow Never Dies.
Gustaf Skarsgård as Philip Meacham
DOB: November 12, 1980
Bio: Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Gustaf Skarsgård is part of the renowned Skarsgård acting dynasty.
A graduate of the Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting, he’s known for bringing raw emotional depth and psychological nuance to complex characters.
Role: Woodhouse’s superior at NCSC, his steely pragmatism drives the agency’s darker operations.
What to Expect: Stark pragmatism, moral ambiguity, and a pivotal betrayal that reshapes the story.
Favorite Things: Skarsgård enjoys sailing in the Stockholm archipelago to reconnect with family roots.
Notable Works: Vikings, Westworld, Kon-Tiki, The Way Back.
Kae Alexander as Anna Ko
DOB: August 31, 1985
Bio: Born in Kobe, Japan, to a Japanese father and Chinese mother, Kae Alexander moved to London at age ten.
She trained at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama and quickly gained attention for her sharp presence and versatility.
Role: Anna Ko is the agency’s tech expert whose coding brilliance reveals the film’s most critical secrets.
Her digital sleuthing places her at the center of a high-stakes conspiracy.
What to Expect: Rapid-fire tech exposés, quiet resilience under threat, and a key role in the climactic escape.
Favorite Things: Alexander finds balance through calligraphy, which she uses to stay focused and centered during intense filming schedules.
Notable Works: Bad Education, Game of Thrones, The Wheel of Time.
Ambika Mod as Angela Childs
DOB: October 2, 1995
Bio: Born in Hatfield, Ambika Mod studied English Literature at Durham University before transitioning into acting and comedy.
Her rise began with the BAFTA-nominated series This Is Going to Hurt, where she was praised for blending vulnerability and strength.
Role: A junior intelligence analyst whose attention to detail and moral clarity quietly reshape the agency’s path from behind the scenes.
What to Expect: Brilliant expositions, heartfelt empathy, and a moment of up-close heroism.
Favorite Things: Mod performs improvised comedy at London’s Free Association to stay creatively sharp.
Notable Works: This Is Going to Hurt, One Day, I Hate Suzie.
Orli Shuka as Andrei Kulikov
DOB: May 27, 1976
Bio: Orli Shuka is a British-Albanian actor known for bringing brooding charisma and formidable presence to his roles.
Coming from a family of performers, his father is the celebrated Albanian actor Agim Shuka, he carved a name for himself with gritty, layered portrayals in crime dramas.
Role: As Andrei Kulikov, he plays a calculating arms dealer whose loyalties and motives are as elusive as the weapons he trades.
What to Expect: Cold pragmatism, tense negotiations, and a cameo-turn revelation that shakes alliances.
Favorite Things: Shuka enjoys composing atmospheric piano melodies to channel his characters’ inner turmoil.
Notable Works: Gangs of London, All The Old Knives, Hyena.
Bruce Mackinnon as The Major
DOB: October 17, 1978
Bio: Bruce Mackinnon was born in Esher, Surrey, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, bringing sharp timing and emotional depth to both comedic and dramatic roles.
He has built a solid career as a character actor, appearing in a wide range of British television and international productions.
Role: As The Major, he commands the field with unflinching discipline, often clashing with more unconventional operatives while occasionally revealing a more human side.
What to Expect: Regimented authority, moments of reluctant camaraderie, and an unexpected act of solidarity.
Favorite Things: Mackinnon is a passionate birdwatcher and often takes his binoculars to filming locations to unwind between scenes.
Notable Works: The Duchess, Guardians of the Galaxy.
More Actors
• Martin Bassindale as Security Guard
• Megan Kimber as Zoe’s Receptionist
• Paul Bailey as Kathryn’s Driver
• Daniel Dow, Alex Magliaro, and others in analyst/officer roles
FAQ – Black Bag Movie
What is the film’s runtime and rating?
Black Bag is 93 minutes long and rated R for language and mature themes.
Is Black Bag based on a true story?
No. While it is grounded in the setting of Cold War–era espionage. The plot, centered on fake rogue AI weapon code named Severus, and the characters are fictional creations of writer David Koepp.
What is Black Bag about?
Black Bag centers on George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender), a counterintelligence officer at Britain’s NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre).
Is Black Bag rated for younger audiences?
The movie is rated R in the United States for language with some sexual references and moderate violence.
Conclusion
Black Bag delivers a stylish and tightly wound espionage thriller that stands out in the modern spy genre.
With a powerhouse cast led by Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, the film blends cerebral tension, psychological complexity, and political paranoia with Soderbergh’s signature cinematic flair.
It’s a smart, adult-oriented spy film that doesn’t rely on overblown action but rather on character depth and narrative precision.
The performances are uniformly excellent, especially Fassbender’s reserved intensity and Blanchett’s enigmatic charm.
Whether you’re a fan of sleek spy games, morally murky alliances, or intricate plotting, Black Bag offers an experience that’s both engaging and satisfying.
It challenges viewers to stay alert and rewards them with an intelligent payoff. For fans of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or The Constant Gardener, this film will feel like home.