Owen Cooper is the star of Netflix drama Adolescence, the 16-year-old received high-acclaim for his role as Jamie Miller on the award-winning show. Owen became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy after his breakout role in the gripping crime series.
Speaking about success of the show on BBC’s Graham Norton Show, Owen said: “Straight away I thought it was going to be more than a TV show – I read the script and then heard the word Netflix. I was nervous about what the reaction to it would be, but a week after it went out everything blew up.
The four-part programme, which became one of the most nominated shows at this year’s Emmy Awards, stars This Is England actor and the programme’s co-creator Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, the dad Jamie’s Owen’s character.
When Jamie is arrested in an early morning raid on the family home, Eddie is chosen as his son’s appropriate adult, accompanying him during a police interview where he finds out the extent of the accusations against his son.
Speaking about the Emmy ceremony, Owen said: “It was crazy and all a bit of a blur. The amount of people I met there was insane. It really was the best day of my life.” After production had ended, Owen had to return to school to finish his qualifications.
He said: “The first day back was a bit weird, but I’ve still got my GCSEs to do. I’ve only got about six months left and then I am gone – and then hopefully I am going to be an actor.”
The actor also stars in BBC comedy-drama Film Club alongside Aimee Lou Wood, and will appear as a young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation, which stars Australian actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
The actor was just 14 when he filmed crime drama Adolescence. The Netflix series, which tells the story of a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a teenage girl, received acclaim for its depiction of violence against women and the effect it has on communities.
Owen grew up in Orford, a suburb of Warrington. He’s the youngest of three, with two elder siblings, Ollie and Connor. He spent two years at The Drama Mob theatre group before landing the memorable Netflix role.
Owen became the youngest ever male Primetime Emmy Award winner. Speaking about the achievement, he said: “Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here.
“But I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. I was nothing about three years ago, and I’m here now.”