British actor Owen Cooper has set a new record at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards after becoming the youngest male to ever win the prize.
The 15-year-old Netflix star, who played teenager Jamie Miller in the drama *Adolescence*, won best supporting actor in a limited series on Sunday night in Los Angeles.
“Standing up here is just, wow, it’s just so surreal,” Cooper said in his emotional acceptance speech. “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.”
The actor, who said he was “nothing about three years ago,” told the cheering crowd that his win 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.”
Cooper’s victory also meant Netflix’s Adolescence swept four major categories, including best limited series, best directing and best writing. His co-stars Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty also picked up acting prizes.
Graham, who won best lead actor, shared his own emotional story. “This kind of thing normally doesn’t happen to a kid like me, I’m just a mixed-race kid from a block of flats in a place called Kirkby. For me to be here today in front of my peers and be acknowledged by you is the most humbling thing I could ever imagine, and it shows you that any dream is possible.”
Doherty, who played a child psychologist in the show, joked she would be “banging on about Owen Cooper and Adolescence for the rest of my life.” She added, “I’d love to mention every single person involved in making this show because it was the definition of a team effort.”
Cooper’s award broke a record that stood since 1973, when Scott Jacoby won at age 16. Roxana Zal remains the youngest Emmy acting winner overall, after clinching the award at 14 in 1984.
During the ceremony, Graham also received a writing award alongside Jack Thorne, who praised the young cast. “You are the flame that proved young people are going to be OK,” Thorne said.
Earlier in the weekend, Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal surprised Cooper during an interview, gifting him a “lucky duck” token that had once been given to him when he was nominated for an Oscar. The viral moment added to the young actor’s historic week.
Other big winners at the Emmys included The Studio, which made history with 13 comedy awards, medical drama The Pitt, and sci-fi thriller Severance.
