British and Irish Talents Celebrate Major Wins at Actor Awards in Los Angeles
The Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles was abuzz with Hollywood glamour on Sunday night as the Actor Awards honoured the finest performances in television and film for 2025. This prestigious event, the last major awards ceremony before the Oscars on March 15, saw British and Irish stars leading the charge in a night of record-breaking achievements and emotional triumphs.
Owen Cooper Makes History as Youngest Winner
British rising star Owen Cooper, aged 16, once again shattered records by becoming the youngest individual winner in the history of the Actor Awards. This remarkable feat surpasses the previous record held by Kate Winslet, who was 20 when she won her first award for Sense and Sensibility. Cooper's victory in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series category for his role in Adolescence marks the culmination of an extraordinary awards season sweep.
Earlier in the season, Cooper made headlines by becoming the youngest male actor ever to win a Primetime Emmy at age 15 for a supporting role in a limited series. In January, while balancing his GCSE studies, he secured the Golden Globe for best supporting actor on television, making him the second-youngest Golden Globe winner in history, after Ricky Schroder.
Despite fierce competition from British talents like Stephen Graham, Charlie Hunnam, Matthew Rhys, and American star Jason Bateman, Cooper emerged victorious. Notably, he was not present to accept the award; presenters Damson Idris and Yerin Ha announced the win, with Idris humorously remarking that he would take the trophy home in Cooper's absence.
Jessie Buckley Completes Awards Season Clean Sweep
In the film categories, Irish actress Jessie Buckley continued her dominant run by winning the Best Actress prize for her lead role in Hamnet. This victory solidifies her clean sweep of the awards season and positions her as a strong contender for the upcoming Academy Awards. Buckley triumphed over a stellar lineup including Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue, Chase Infiniti, and Emma Stone.
During her heartfelt acceptance speech, Buckley paid tribute to her British co-star Emily Watson, who was cheering from the audience. She expressed deep gratitude for their collaboration, stating, 'To share those scenes with you in Hamnet, I will cherish that for the rest of my life. Your wild imagination, your brave untethered womanhood, your ferocious gentleness is a guiding light to me.' She added that working with such talented friends made her career a fulfilling journey.
Other Notable British and Irish Highlights
While Adolescence secured only one win despite nominations for Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco, other British hopefuls made their mark. Gary Oldman received a nomination for his lead role in Slow Horses but lost to Noah Wyle of The Pitt in the drama series category. British-Nigerian star Wunmi Mosaku was nominated for Supporting Actress for her role in Sinners, though the award went to Amy Madigan.
In a surprising turn, the cast of Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, won the top prize for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, highlighting the film's overall excellence. The television categories also saw significant wins, with The Pitt taking home the ensemble drama series award and The Studio dominating the comedy series segments.
The Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards until their rebranding this year, showcased a diverse array of talent, underscoring the global impact of British and Irish performers in the entertainment industry. As the awards season draws to a close, all eyes now turn to the Oscars, where these stars are poised for further recognition.
