Coronation Street actress Tina O'Brien is reportedly nursing a heartache after being overlooked by her former protege, teenage Golden Globe winner Owen Cooper.
The Snub That Stung
Owen Cooper, the 16-year-old star of Netflix's 'Adolescence', won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Golden Globes last weekend. In a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles, attended by A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, the young actor from Didsbury gave a heartfelt speech. He reflected on his 'incredible journey' and thanked his family, explaining he 'took a risk' by signing up for drama classes.
However, there was one notable omission. Cooper made no mention of the Manchester drama school, Drama Mob, where he trained, or its founder, Tina O'Brien, 42. Sources now claim the Corrie legend feels 'abandoned' by the star she helped nurture.
Key to His Success
O'Brien set up Drama Mob with her friend Esther because she felt there was a lack of acting classes for her own daughter, Scarlett, 16. Owen Cooper was one of their students before he shot to fame. Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source said: "Tina was absolutely key in Owen's success, but she was forgotten last week. It was pretty rotten to have left her out like that."
The source added that while Tina is humble and proud, "she did start him on his road to stardom" and someone could have given her a 'big-up' after the Globes. The lack of recognition has also frustrated the teaching staff at Drama Mob, especially when some early reviews of Adolescence last year suggested Cooper had no prior training.
Frustration Behind the Scenes
Co-founder Esther expressed this frustration at the time, stating they invest a lot of time in their young actors. "We really got to know him and his parents and supported them through the process," she said. Last week, Esther told Lorraine Kelly she had recognised Cooper's standout talent from the moment he joined.
Despite the reported disappointment, there is no denying Owen Cooper's earned success. In his Globes speech, he described being the only boy in his drama class as 'embarrassing', but said he persevered and is still learning every day from the inspiring people around him.
Tina O'Brien, whose daughter trained alongside Cooper, has yet to publicly comment on his win or the reported snub. The Mirror has contacted her representative for a statement.
