A new record was etched into television history last night as Owen Cooper, the breakout star of the hit Netflix miniseries Adolescence, became the youngest male actor ever to win a Primetime Emmy Award.
At just 15 years and 283 days old, the young British actor took home the prestigious Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles, California.
The win not only secured the Primetime Emmy Award for Cooper but also a Guinness World Records title, achieved with his first-ever professional acting role.
Cooper delivered a universally acclaimed performance as Jamie Miller, a troubled 13-year-old accused of murder, in the hard-hitting Netflix drama. The miniseries, praised for its unflinching look at youth crime and its unique single-take format in some episodes, also starred veteran actor Stephen Graham as his frantic father, Eddie.
“This is so surreal, honestly,” a visibly emotional Cooper said in his acceptance speech. “When I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here. I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life.”
Cooper’s record shatters the previous mark set in 1973 by Scott Jacoby, who was 16 when he won his supporting drama actor Emmy.
The acclaimed performance has instantly catapulted the young actor from Warrington, England, into the international spotlight, marking a spectacular beginning to his career. Adolescence itself was a major winner of the evening, taking home the award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
