Owen Cooper: Making Film History at 15 years old
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Owen Cooper makes history as the youngest Emmy winner, proving talent knows no age.
On Sept. 14, 2025, the young debut actor Owen Cooper won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his portrayal of Jamie Miller in the Netflix series Adolescence (2025)—making history at just 15 years old. Owen Cooper now holds the title of the youngest winner of a Primetime Emmy Award in history.
However, Cooper’s historic win cannot be fully understood without examining the series itself. Currently, with its standing as “Netflix’s second biggest English-language TV series,” since July 2025, according to The Guardian, the series follows the turbulent journey of the family of a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller, suspected of murdering a fellow female classmate. The show is significantly applauded for a variety of elements.
One of the most memorable elements that sets the series apart is the bold cinematography. The series is often praised for its unique film production, with each episode composed of a single continuous take. The director Philip Barantini and cinematographer Matthew Lewis worked closely to daringly formulate the single-take shot in pursuit in order “to create a feeling of tension and nervousness as the story, and Jamie’s intentions, reveal themselves.” There is no debate that this intentional creative choice resulted in a unique, raw, and intense experience for the audience.
The show has also garnered much attention for eliciting introspective conversations on pertinent themes of familial and peer relationships, misogyny, flawed gender expectations, and online radicalization, in this case specifically focusing on the rise and consequences of “incel” culture. Co-writer Stephen Graham and the actor who plays Jaime’s father, Eddie Miller, explained to Rolling Stone how the themes for Adolescence (2025) came about, stating, “These aren’t men committing these crimes. They’re boys. That had been lurking somewhere in my subconscious for a while.” These themes continue to spark essential reflection and discourse, encouraging audiences to question and engage in meaningful conversations about youth, masculinity, and online communities.
With the combination of innovative storytelling and cultural relevance, the critically acclaimed series earned a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 98% and dominated the limited series category at the 2025 Emmys, winning a whopping eight awards for acting, writing, directing, and creative arts.
According to IMDB, Owen Cooper, a Warrington, England native, attended weekly acting classes in Manchester, England at the Drama MOB, but had never participated in professional on-screen performances. Adolescence (2025) casting director, Shaheen Baig, had “visited two northern drama schools that work with children from underrepresented and deprived communities,” with the desire to find young, undiscovered talent. Ultimately, with the guidance of the Drama MOB and a standout self-tape, Baig chose Owen Cooper to portray Jamie Miller.
Yet despite having zero on-screen experience and faced with the complexity of the character he was to play, Cooper did not fall short in crafting and delivered a haunting and unforgettable professional debut.
In his heartening acceptance speech, Cooper spoke with poise, thanking his family, mentors, and the cast and crew of the production. He encouraged people to step out of their comfort zone, stating, “Who cares if you get embarrassed? Anything can be possible.” He added, “I was nothing about three years ago; I'm here now.” His words resonated with viewers and aspiring actors alike, a reminder that courage and persistence can open doors in seemingly impossible ways.