LOS ANGELES – Owen Cooper, the 15-year-old star of Netflix’s limited series Adolescence, has made Emmy Awards history as the youngest male acting winner.

On Sunday night, Cooper won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Cooper described the moment as “so surreal.”
“Honestly, when I started drama classes a couple of years back, I didn’t expect to even be in the United States, never mind here,” he said. “Tonight proves that if you listen, focus, and step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life.”

He went on to thank his parents, Netflix, and series creator Stephen Graham, adding, “Anything is possible.”

Breaking Records

Cooper’s nomination in July already marked him as the youngest ever contender in the category, surpassing the previous record set in 1972 when Scott Jacoby, then 16, was nominated for That Certain Summer. Jacoby went on to win in 1973.

Alongside Cooper, nominees included Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent), Rob Delaney (Dying for Sex), Peter Sarsgaard (Presumed Innocent), and Ashley Walters (Adolescence).

About Adolescence

In the four-part U.K. drama, Cooper portrays Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy whose life unravels after being arrested for the murder of a fellow student. The series explores the complexities of youth and the loss of innocence.

The show has had a powerful cultural impact. Following its release, the British government supported an initiative to make Adolescence available in secondary schools across the U.K.

More Wins for the Series

Adolescence earned multiple honors on Emmy night, also winning for Directing and Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Actress Erin Doherty added another accolade for the series by winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in the same category.