Stephen Graham received an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role in Netflix's Adolescence, delivering an emotional acceptance speech that moved the audience. The 52-year-old actor, who plays the father of a teenage killer, said: 'This kind of thing doesn’t happen to a kid like me. I’m just a mixed race kid from a block of flats in a place called Kirkby.'
Graham thanked his stepfather Mike Fazakerley, who helped him during a difficult childhood marred by racial bullying. 'He helped me see who I am and what I am is good enough,' Graham had previously said. He also paid tribute to his wife, children, and the Quarry Green video shop where his stepfather sparked his love of film.
Co-star Owen Cooper, who played the accused teenager Jamie Miller, also won an Emmy, making history as the youngest male actor ever honoured at the ceremony. The series Adolescence won six awards, including Best Limited or Anthology Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Erin Doherty.
Graham, of Jamaican and Swedish descent, has often spoken about his struggles with identity and bullying. His emotional win highlights how far he has come from his humble beginnings in Kirkby.
