British teenager Owen Cooper has cemented his status as a breakout star by making awards history at the 2026 Golden Globes. The 16-year-old, who is currently studying for his GCSEs, won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a television series for his role in the hard-hitting Netflix drama Adolescence, becoming the youngest actor ever to receive the honour.
A Record-Breaking Night for a Teenage Sensation
Owen Cooper's victory at the Beverly Hilton ceremony on Sunday night marked another milestone in his meteoric rise. His win for playing Jamie Miller also makes him the second-youngest male Golden Globe winner in history, trailing only Ricky Schroder, who won at age nine in 1980. The win continues a remarkable awards streak for the young actor, who previously won an Emmy for the same role in September. The four-part series, filmed when Cooper was just 14, explores the story of a boy accused of murder after discovering 'incel' culture online and has averaged around 45 million views per month.
Adolescence Cast Celebrates Multiple Wins
Cooper was not the only member of the Adolescence team to take home gold. The show's star and co-creator, Stephen Graham, won the award for Best Actor in a Limited Series. In a touching moment, Graham was presented his award by Leonardo DiCaprio and used his speech to praise his wife and Adolescence executive producer, Anna Walters, stating, "You saved my life."
Completing the show's triumphant night, supporting actress Erin Doherty also won her category. In a speech that resonated with the audience, Doherty dedicated her win to therapists, earning a round of applause as she emphasised, "mental health is everything." The critically acclaimed series earned a total of five nominations.
Other Highlights from the 83rd Golden Globes
The 2026 ceremony, hosted for the second consecutive year by comedian Nikki Glaser, saw a wide array of winners across film and television. In the film categories, Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another led with nine nominations and won for Best Director and Best Screenplay. Teyana Taylor won the first award of the night for Best Supporting Actress for her role in that film.
In television, Noah Wyle won Best Actor in a Drama Series for The Pitt, while Seth Rogen won Best Actor in a Comedy for The Studio. The prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement was presented to Dame Helen Mirren in a separate ceremony prior to the main event.
The evening celebrated a strong showing for British talent, with wins for Cooper, Graham, Doherty, and Dame Helen, proving the continued international impact of the UK's creative industries.
