British teenager Owen Cooper entered the Emmy record books on Sunday after winning the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series.
The 15-year-old was recognised for his breakout role in Netflix’s Adolescence, making him the youngest male actor to ever win in that category.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards saw Adolescence emerge as one of the night’s top winners with six awards. Cooper’s performance as Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy accused of murder, was central to the show’s critical success.
In his acceptance speech, Cooper reflected on the rapid turn his life had taken and encouraged young people to take chances.
“Get out of your comfort zone. It’s okay to fail or feel embarrassed. You might discover something great about yourself,” he said. His words drew applause and smiles from the crowd.
Born in Warrington, Cheshire, on December 5, 2009, Cooper had no prior screen credits before landing the role in Adolescence. According to a report by the BBC, he was selected from over 500 hopefuls after casting directors contacted his drama school looking for promising young talent from Northern England. His teachers said they always believed he had something unique.
The Emmy ceremony, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, featured a new format that kept things moving quickly. A charity donation of one hundred thousand dollars was tied to speech timing, with funds reduced for any speech that ran longer than forty-five seconds. This encouraged winners to keep their remarks short without losing the emotion of the moment.
The red carpet also made headlines, with appearances by Sydney Sweeney, Pedro Pascal and Jenna Ortega. Their fashion choices became trending topics on social media, blending television prestige with pop culture influence.
Other notable wins included Noah Wyle for Lead Actor in a Drama and Jean Smart for her role in Hacks. In a surprise turn, supporting acting awards went to Katherine LaNasa for The Pitt and Tramell Tillman for Severance, both of whom were considered underdogs in their categories.
This year’s Emmys delivered a mix of polished production, heartfelt moments and unexpected victories. Cooper’s historic win stood out as one of the evening’s most memorable achievements, marking a new chapter for young actors in television.
