Owen Cooper Makes History as Youngest Male Emmy Winner Ever

Owen Cooper has made history at the Emmy Awards as the youngest male actor ever to win in an acting category. The 15-year-old star earned the accolade for his role as Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy accused of killing a classmate, in Netflix’s hit British crime drama “Adolescence.”

Cooper’s performance earned him his first Emmy nomination, making him the youngest nominee in the outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie category. Moments ago, he took home the award, surpassing the previous record held by Scott Jacoby, who was 16 when he won in 1973 for “That Certain Summer.”

The youngest female Emmy winner remains Roxana Zal, who won at age 14 in 1984 for “Something About Amelia.”

Before his historic win, Cooper shared with TODAY.com how meaningful the nomination was to him. “I know there’s a lot of pressure on me, but it’s just, obviously, it’s a bonus. And it just shows how well the show is done. So, yeah, it’s just a good way to end,” he said.

During his acceptance speech, Cooper reflected on his journey and growth as an actor. “A couple years back I didn’t expect to be in the United States, let alone here. Tonight proves if you listen, you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. I was nothing three years ago. I’m here now,” he said.

“If you step out of your comfort zone, who cares if you get embarrassed? Anything can be possible.” Cooper also thanked his parents, the show’s creators, and the team behind the camera, saying, “It may be my name on the wall but it really belongs to the people behind the camera.”

“Adolescence,” co-created by and co-starring Stephen Graham, who plays Jamie’s father Eddie Miller, draws inspiration from real-life events, including a series of local stabbings. Graham told Tudum, “It shocked me. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What’s the inciting incident here?’ And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, ‘Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this?’”

Graham added that the show aims to explore the pressures faced by young men today, from peers, social media, and society at large. Since its release on March 13, “Adolescence” quickly became the top English-language series on Netflix in the U.S., earning strong critical acclaim with a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 109 critic reviews.

This record-breaking win marks a major milestone in Owen Cooper’s career, and it highlights the powerful storytelling and performances in “Adolescence.” His achievement proves that talent and dedication can shine through at any age.

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