Ballad of a Small Player cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the latest Colin Farrell drama? 

Ballad of a Small Player, directed by Edward Berger and adapted from Lawrence Osborne’s novel, drops Colin Farrell into Macau as Lord Doyle, a charmingly broken gambler whose luck and sense of self begin to blur. Joining him is a small but stunning cast, who will all bring their magic to the screen.

According to Netflix, the synopsis for the film reads:

"Lord Doyle is laying low in Macau – spending his days and nights on the casino floors, drinking heavily and gambling what little money he has left. Struggling to keep up with his fast-rising debts, he is offered a lifeline by the mysterious Dao Ming, a casino employee with secrets of her own. However, in hot pursuit is Cynthia Blithe – a private investigator ready to confront Doyle with what he is running from. As Doyle tries to climb to salvation, the confines of reality start to close in."

Here's everything you need to know about the film's cast.

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Who's playing whom in Ballad of a Small Player?

Colin Farrell as Lord Doyle

Colin Farrell is leading Ballad Of A Small Player as Lord Doyle, a gambler who's gambling away whatever is left of his life. Drowning in debt and desperation, his life turns when he is offered an unexpected opportunity by a casino employee.

Farrell needs no introduction. The recipient of an Oscar nomination, three Golden Globes and an SAG award, the actor is known for his roles in Martin McDonagh films, most notably In Bruges, which won him a Golden Globe Award. Some of his most notable works include Horrible Bosses, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Banshees of Inisherin. He also worked on HBO's True Detective and The Penguin.

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Fala Chen as Dao Ming

Fala Chen is stepping in Ballad Of A Small Player as casino employee Dao Ming, kind of a savior for Doyle. But maybe not. Her role is drowned in mystery and it's clear that there's more to her than what we know now.

Chen is known for her role as Ying Li in the MCU film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She has also worked on the show Irma Vep and 2024's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

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Tilda Swinton as Cynthia Blithe

Tilda Swinton plays Cynthia in Ballad Of A Small Player, a private investigator who's after Doyle and knows him inside out. Her role is likely to bring out quite a few twist and turns in Doyle's life, complimenting his character.

Swinton is known for her roles in Michael Clayton, Vanilla Sky,The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Suspiria and The Room Next Door.

Her famous roles include the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia series and the Ancient One in the MCU.

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More details about the cast of Ballad Of A Small Player

Deanie Ip and Alex Jennings are also a part of Ballad Of A Small Player although their roles are not known as of now.

Deanie has quite the collection of Hong Kong films under her radar, and this will be her first role in a Hollywood film. As for Jennings, he is known for his work with the Royal Shakespearean Company. His most notable work is his role as of Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, in the Netflix series The Crown.

Ballad Of A Small Player will release on Netflix on October 17, 2025.