Adolescence star Owen Cooper becomes youngest male Emmy winner

British actor Owen Cooper has become the youngest male actor to win an Emmy, after being awarded for his role in the Netflix drama ‘Adolescence’.

He had already made history as the youngest person ever to be nominated for supporting actor in a limited series.

The 15-year-old, who had never acted professionally before being cast in Adolescence, told the audience at the 77th Emmy Awards that he was “nothing” just three years ago.

“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,” the Warrington actor said in his acceptance speech.

“But I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life.”

He added, “It says my name on the statue, but it really belongs to all of the people who worked on the show.”

Owen Cooper with his parents in the press room. Cooper had never acted before being cast in Adolescence. / Credit: AP/Invision

Adolescence, which was released in March, became Netflix’s most-watched show for the first half of 2025.

The show follows the story of a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a classmate, and those around him and involved in the investigation are left to grapple with the reality of what happened that night, and what led to it.

Each episode was shot in one continuous take, aimed at heightening tension for viewers.

It was widely praised not just for its subject matter but for its technical brilliance, with each episode shot in one continuous take.

Stephen Graham took home the awards for Best Lead Actor and Best Writing for a limited series. / Credit: Invision/AP

Adolescence won eight Emmys in total, with Erin Doherty getting best supporting actress in a limited series, dedicating the award to her older sister, and Stephen Graham picking up the award for lead actor in a limited series.

Graham, who co-created the series, also received a gong for Outstanding Writing for a limited series.

“I’m just a mixed-race kid from a block of flats in a place called Kirkby,” Graham told the audience.

“So, for me to be here today in front of my peers and to be acknowledged by you is the utmost humbling thing I could ever imagine in my life, and it shows you that any dream is possible.”

Adolescence director Philip Barantini took home the Emmy for outstanding directing for a limited or anthology series or movie.

“To Netflix, thank you for trusting us with this mad idea,” Barantini said while accepting his award.

Adolescence also took home the gong for best limited or anthology series.

The night’s other major winners included Seth Rogen’s The Studio, which took home awards for best directing, best comedy series, best writing and outstanding actor in a comedy series.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver picked up two awards for variety series and outstanding scripted variety series.

Severance star Tramell Tillman also made history as the first black man to win the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, while his co-star Britt Lower won the award for outstanding lead actress in the same category.

Severance was nominated 27 times, while crime drama mini-series The Penguin had 24 nominations and Adolescence received 13.

Tramell Tillman plays one of the main antagonists in Severance, which sees office workers consciousness’ seperated between home and work. / Credit: Invision/AP

The Pitt, a show about healthcare workers in Pittsburgh, won best drama series, with its stars Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa taking home awards for outstanding lead actor and supporting actress, respectively.

Dame Maggie Smith, musicians Ozzy Osbourne and Quincy Jones, Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg and director David Lynch were among the famous faces honoured in an In Memoriam slideshow

There was also a Gilmore Girls reunion, as Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham came together to present the award for outstanding writing in a comedy series.

Seth Rogen’s The Studio, became the most awarded comedy in a single season with 13 Emmy awards / Credit: Invision/AP

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which was controversially cancelled earlier this year, won the award for outstanding talk series.

“And that’s related to love, because sometimes you only truly know how much you love something when you get a sense that you might be losing it,” Colbert told the crowd, who kicked off his speech to cheers of “Stephen” from his team onstage.

“Ten years later, in September of 2025, my friends, I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America. Stay strong. Be brave, and if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor.”