Owen Cooper: The 16-Year-Old Star Everyone’s Talking About

Owen Cooper, the star of Netflix’s Adolescence, has made history at the Golden Globes, becoming the youngest actor ever to win the award for Best Supporting Actor in a TV series. At just 16, Cooper surpassed Chris Colfer, who took home the same honour for Glee in 2010 at the age of 20.

The award recognises Cooper’s performance in the limited series, which also stars Stephen Graham, and marks his place as the second-youngest male Golden Globe winner ever, behind Ricky Schroder, who won the New Star of the Year award at age nine for The Champ. Cooper beat out fellow nominees Ashley Walters (Adolescence), Billy Crudup (The Morning Show), Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus), Tramell Tillman (Severance), and Walton Goggins (The White Lotus). Speaking after his win, Cooper expressed heartfelt gratitude for the recognition.

In Adolescence, Cooper portrays 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is arrested in connection with a murder. Remarkably, this was Cooper’s first acting role. The show, which features Stephen Graham as Jamie’s father, became Netflix’s second most-watched English-language series last year.

Cooper’s accolades don’t stop at the Golden Globes. He also became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy, taking home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. He has additionally been honoured with Critics’ Choice and Gotham TV awards and earned a nomination for a SAG-AFTRA Actor Award.