Owen Cooper, the 15-year-old star of the Netflix series Adolescence, made history at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 14, 2025, by becoming the youngest actor to win the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Cooper was recognized for his portrayal of Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a female classmate in the hit crime drama.
At the time of filming Adolescence, Cooper was only 14 years old and had never acted before. The mini-series, filmed in Liverpool, sparked a national conversation about misogyny and online safety. The show garnered a total of four Emmys, including Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Philip Barantini, and Outstanding Writing in the same category for Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham. Erin Doherty, who played Jamie's therapist, also won Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. Adolescence dominated Netflix's most-watched list earlier in the year and received widespread praise for its unique filming techniques, with each episode captured in one continuous take. The show earned 13 Primetime Emmy nominations.
Cooper beat out several seasoned actors in the category, including Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Peter Sarsgaard (Presumed Innocent), Rob Delaney (Dying for Sex), and even his Adolescence co-star Ashley Walters.
In his acceptance speech, Cooper expressed his astonishment and gratitude, stating, "This is so surreal, though, honestly, when I started these drama classes, I didn't expect to be in the United States, never mind here". He further added, "I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve. You can achieve anything in life". Cooper also reflected on his journey, saying, “I was nothing about three years ago. I'm here now. If you are listening, you are focusing, you step out of your comfort zone a little bit — who cares if you get embarrassed? Anything is possible”.
Adding to the surreal experience, Cooper had an emotional pre-Emmys encounter with his acting idol, Jake Gyllenhaal, who surprised him in his hotel room and gifted him a "lucky duck". Gyllenhaal shared a personal anecdote about receiving a similar gift before his own Academy Award nomination for Brokeback Mountain.
Cooper's historic win and inspiring words resonated with audiences, proving that dedication and stepping outside one's comfort zone can lead to extraordinary achievements.
