Fifteen-year-old Owen Cooper has made history as the youngest ever winner of the Emmy for best supporting actor in a limited series, for his role in the Netflix drama Adolescence. Cooper was just 14 when the show was filmed, marking his first professional credit.
In the series, Cooper played Jamie, a teenage boy arrested for the murder of a female classmate. The show, which earned 140 million views in its first three months, sparked global conversations about online 'incel' culture and real-world harm.
Accepting the award, Cooper said: 'Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here.' He thanked his family, co-star Stephen Graham, and the cast and crew.
Cooper beat nominees including his Adolescence co-star Ashley Walters, Javier Bardem, Bill Camp, Peter Sarsgaard, and Rob Delaney. Before the ceremony, he received a 'lucky duck' gift from fellow nominee Jake Gyllenhaal.
Adolescence also won Emmys for best limited series, best directing, best writing, best actor (Stephen Graham), and best supporting actress (Erin Doherty). Graham said: 'We never expected our little program to have such a big impact.'
