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Emmys 2025: Owen Cooper Becomes Youngest-Ever Winner for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series
Sep
Fifteen-year-old Owen Cooper has made Emmy history. He won Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his role in Adolescence, becoming the youngest actor ever to receive the award.
Cooper was only 14 years old when filming began. Remarkably, Adolescence marks his first professional acting credit. He played Jamie, a troubled teen arrested for the murder of a female classmate.
The show became a massive hit, amassing 140 million views in its first three months on Netflix. Notably, each episode was filmed in one continuous take. The series also sparked global conversations around “incel” culture and its real-world consequences.
A Moment of Surprise and Gratitude
On stage, Cooper said:
“Honestly, when I started drama classes a couple years ago, I didn’t expect to even be in the United States—never mind here.”
He thanked his family, the behind-the-scenes crew, and especially co-star and co-creator Stephen Graham, saying:
“This may have my name on it, but this award really belongs to everyone behind the camera, Stephen, and all the cast.”
Breaking a 41-Year Record
Cooper is now one of the youngest Emmy winners ever. The previous record was set in 1984 by Roxana Zal, who was also 14 when she won for Something About Amelia.
In his category, Cooper competed against strong nominees including:
- Ashley Walters (Adolescence)
- Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story)
- Bill Camp and Peter Sarsgaard (Presumed Innocent)
- Rob Delaney (Dying for Sex)
A Gift from a Hero
Before the show, Cooper had expressed his excitement to meet fellow nominee Jake Gyllenhaal. On the red carpet, Gyllenhaal surprised him with a symbolic gift: a “lucky duck.”
“It’s just a lucky duck to keep in your pocket,” Gyllenhaal said. “To give you a little bit of luck.”
Big Night for Adolescence
In addition to Cooper’s win, Adolescence dominated the ceremony:
- Best Limited Series
- Best Directing
- Best Writing
- Best Actor in a Limited Series for Stephen Graham
- Best Supporting Actress for Erin Doherty, who played Jamie’s forensic psychologist
Accepting the writing award with co-creator Jack Thorne, Graham said:
“We never expected our little program to have such a big impact.”
