Netflix newcomer Owen Cooper delivers moving Emmy speech after record-breaking win

A 15-year-old from Warrington has made television history by becoming the youngest male actor ever to win an Emmy. Owen Cooper, a relative unknown until last year, swept to stardom thanks to his harrowing lead role in Adolescence, a Netflix drama co-created by acclaimed actor Stephen Graham.

At Sunday’s Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Cooper picked up the prestigious trophy for Outstanding Lead Actor, his first ever award in his first onscreen role. The teenager, visibly stunned as he took to the stage, called the moment “surreal” and used his speech to encourage others to take risks and step beyond their comfort zones.

“When I started these drama classes a couple of years back, I didn’t expect to even be in the United States, never mind here,” he said. “I think tonight proves if you listen, and you focus and you step out your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. Who cares if you get embarrassed? Anything can be possible. I was nothing about three years ago, I’m here now.”

He went on to thank his family, the production team and his co-stars, adding: “It may have my name on this award, but it really belongs to the people behind the camera.”

Cooper’s breakthrough came with Adolescence, a four-part drama that follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller, accused of murdering a female classmate in a northern English town. The storyline explores themes of misogyny, the influence of social media and the devastating impact of violence among teenagers. The series quickly became Netflix’s most-streamed title in both the UK and the US within a week of its release. Erin Doherty also won an Emmy for her role as a child psychologist, while Stephen Graham took home an award for his portrayal of Jamie’s father, Eddie.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer even supported calls for the drama to be shown in schools, highlighting its exploration of social issues that continue to shape the lives of young people. Graham, who co-created the show with writer Jack Thorne, said he had been inspired by reports of boys stabbing girls to death, describing the cases as “heartbreaking” and a sign of worrying change in society. He has since praised Cooper publicly, telling the BBC’s The One Show that he believed the teenager was “the next Robert De Niro”.

Cooper’s rise has been rapid. He had been attending weekly acting classes at the Drama Mob school in Manchester when the production team began casting. Esther Morgan, from the school, said the producers repeatedly asked to see more of his audition tapes. Casting director Shaheen Baig later recalled: “He looks great on camera, but also his improv was really smart. It felt very natural.”

Filmed when he was just 14, Adolescence became his big break and launched him into global recognition. Now, less than two years after being discovered, Cooper has joined the ranks of Emmy winners, cementing his reputation as one of the brightest young talents in television.

As he stood on stage in Los Angeles clutching the golden statue, the teenager delivered a message of determination and hope. His words, both humble and defiant, resonated with audiences far beyond the auditorium: that anything is possible if you are willing to take risks, embrace failure and step outside the comfort of what feels safe. For Owen Cooper, the journey from weekly drama lessons in Warrington to Hollywood’s biggest stage is proof that dreams can be realised sooner than anyone expects