Owen Cooper Makes History: Youngest Male Actor to Win an Emmy at 15

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Owen Cooper, a talented young actor from Warrington, England, recently made his mark in international cinema history.

At the young age of 15, he won a prestigious Emmy Award. This achievement made him the youngest male actor ever to win an acting award at the awards ceremony.

Owen Cooper's win came at the 77th Emmy Awards, held on Sunday, September 14, 2025 and awarded the trophy for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

Owen Cooper won this award for his captivating role as Jamie Miller in the Netflix crime drama miniseries "Adolescence."

In the series, he plays a 13-year-old boy accused of murder.

Owen Cooper is a first-time #EMMY winning actor at the age of 15. pic.twitter.com/UVnTlAHpVy

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 15, 2025

On the night of the 77th Emmy Awards, Owen Cooper's name resounded as the winner of the Best Supporting Actor category.

He not only became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy but also held the record for being the youngest nominee in the category.

The role of Jamie Miller in the series "Adolescence" was key to Owen Cooper's success.

He portrayed Jamie, a teenager accused of a serious crime, with astonishing emotional depth.

In his acceptance speech, Owen Cooper expressed disbelief.

“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,” Cooper said on stage.

He thanked his family, as well as his co-star and the show’s co-creator, actor Stephen Graham: “It may have my name on this award, but it really belongs to the people behind the camera and Stephen and … all the cast.”

He stated that he never imagined being in the United States, let alone on the Emmy stage, when he first took drama class.

Another special moment occurred before the Emmys, when Owen Cooper had the opportunity to meet his idol, Jake Gyllenhaal.

This meeting became a fond memory, especially after Gyllenhaal gave him a lucky duck doll.

“It’s just a ‘lucky duck’ to keep in your pocket,” Gyllenhaal said. “To give you a little bit of luck.”

Jake Gyllenhaal surprises Adolesence's Owen Cooper before the Emmys 😭 pic.twitter.com/qKEwi1iD80

— Netflix (@netflix) September 14, 2025

The miniseries "Adolescence," starring Owen Cooper, not only catapulted him to fame but also garnered widespread critical acclaim.

The series was praised for its honest storytelling and innovative one-shot technique used in each episode.

More than just entertainment, "Adolescence" successfully sparked global conversations about sensitive issues such as misogyny, online safety, and the mental health of teenage boys.

Its social impact was so significant that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer watched the series with his family.

He even participated in a roundtable discussion with charities and series creators Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham to discuss relevant policy measures.

The success of "Adolescence" was also reflected in the numerous awards it won. The series received 13 Emmy nominations and took home six awards in total.

These included Best Limited Series, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Actor (for Stephen Graham), and Best Supporting Actress (for Erin Doherty), demonstrating the exceptionally high quality of the production.

The popularity of "Adolescence" is also undeniable.

In its first three months on Netflix, the series garnered 140 million views.

Owen Cooper was born on December 5, 2009, making him 15 years old when he won his Emmy and 14 when he filmed "Adolescence."

He hails from Warrington, England, and is a promising young talent.

His role in "Adolescence" marked his first professional acting role, having previously only attended weekly drama classes.

Owen Cooper's inspiration for acting came after watching Tom Holland's performance in the film "The Impossible" (2012).

The film sparked his interest in acting, which he then pursued through weekly drama lessons at The Drama Mob in Manchester.

Before entering the world of acting, Owen Cooper had another ambition: to become a professional soccer player.

He was a member of the Warrington Rylands U15 team and a passionate Liverpool F.C. fan.

Owen Cooper's future in acting looks very bright. He is scheduled to play the young Heathcliff in the film adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" (2026).

He will also appear as Callum in the upcoming BBC series "Film Club."