A 15-year-old from Warrington has entered Emmy history. Owen Cooper, star of Netflix’s Adolescence, won outstanding supporting actor in a limited series at the 77th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, making him the youngest male actor to claim the honor.

Cooper, who had never acted professionally before being cast as Jamie Miller, plays a troubled schoolboy arrested for the murder of his classmate in Yorkshire. He told the audience the night felt “surreal” and urged young people to step out of their comfort zones: “It says my name on the statue, but it really belongs to everyone who worked on the show.”

Main Points of the News

• Owen Cooper (15) is the youngest male Emmy winner.

• He starred in Adolescence, a Netflix drama produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B.

• The show dominated the Emmys with six wins from 13 nominations.

• Adolescence has been viewed 142.6 million times since March.

• The series tackles knife crime, online safety, and incel culture.

Cooper was only 14 when filming began, and his ability to improvise during long, unbroken takes earned praise across the industry. Since its March release, Adolescence has been streamed more than 142 million times and sparked global discussions around youth violence and internet dangers.

The show’s success extended well beyond Cooper’s award. Director Philip Barantini collected the Emmy for outstanding directing, while Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham shared the writing prize. Graham, who also played Jamie’s father Eddie, won best actor in a limited series. In an emotional speech, he reflected on his upbringing in Kirkby and said the recognition showed “any dream is possible.”

Erin Doherty added to the haul by winning best supporting actress for her performance as Briony Ariston, a child psychologist assessing Jamie before trial. She called the project a “team effort” and praised her colleagues for their generosity.

The Netflix drama finished the night as one of the biggest winners, alongside Seth Rogen’s The Studio, which triumphed in the comedy categories, and HBO’s The Pitt, which upset Severance for best drama.

For Cooper, who only joined drama classes a few years ago, the Emmy marks the beginning of a career that has already reshaped expectations of what teenage actors can achieve.