‘Adolescence’ star Owen Cooper becomes youngest male actor Emmy winner

Fifteen-year-old Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper has become the youngest male ever to win an acting Emmy in any category.

Cooper triumphed in Sunday’s 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, prevailing over fellow nominees in the limited or anthology series or movie supporting actor category such as industry veterans Javier Bardem and Peter Sarsgaard, and Adolescence co-star Ashley Walters.

“I was nothing three years ago. I’m here now,” Cooper said on stage at Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. “If you listen and focus, you can do anything […] It may have my name on this wall, but [this award] belongs to all the people behind the camera.”

Cooper previously told Screen that he had been taking drama classes in Manchester when he submitted a self-tape for the role of Jamie, a 13-year-old boy who is arrested and charged with murdering a classmate.

Sunday produced a huge night for the Netflix show, which went home with six wins on the night and won every category it contested (a couple of categories featured multiple nominees).

Adolescence won best limited or anthology series or movie, lead actor for Stephen Graham, supporting actor for Cooper, supporting actress for Erin Doherty, and awards for writing and directing.

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