Owen Cooper Makes Emmy History at Just 15

14 September 2025

Owen Cooper accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for "Adolescence" onstage during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Winter/Getty

At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards held on September 14, 2025, 15-year-old Owen Cooper stunned the television world by becoming the youngest ever winner in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Cooper was honored for his breakthrough role as Jaime, a 13-year-old accused of murder in Adolescence, a Netflix limited series that explores the darkness lurking within youth and family. His win is remarkable not only because of its rarity but because Adolescence swept its acting categories, gathering wide critical acclaim.

Cooper stood on stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, visibly emotional and humbled. In his acceptance speech he reflected on how surreal it feels to receive such recognition so early in his life. “If you listen, you focus and you step out of your comfort zone you can achieve anything in life,” he told the audience. He paid tribute first to his parents, his castmates, and the production team of Adolescence, saying the award also belongs to everyone behind the camera who helped bring the story to life.

Before Cooper’s win this year the record for youngest in the category was held by Michael A. Goorjian, who was 23 when he won in 1994. Cooper’s win not only breaks a decades-old milestone but reframes what people see as possible for young actors in prestige television. This was Cooper’s first television role, adding to the weight of the achievement.

Adolescence itself has been one of the biggest breakout TV hits of 2025. It earned thirteen Emmy nominations, many of them in major acting categories. The show explores harsh themes through a tightly wound narrative, including the social, psychological and familial fallout when a child is accused of a crime. Cooper’s portrayal of Jaime Miller, the accused, is central. He manages to convey confusion, fear, guilt, and a kind of isolated strength all without ever feeling like a child playing at darkness. Adolescence won several awards that night besides Cooper’s including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, both supporting and leading acting honors, and recognition for casting and cinematography.

His co-nominees that evening were seasoned actors including Ashley Walters (also nominated from Adolescence), Bill Camp from Presumed Innocent, Javier Bardem for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Peter Sarsgaard also from Presumed Innocent, and Rob Delaney from Dying for Sex. Cooper’s victory over this formidable field in what was his debut role adds another dimension to the win.

In interviews before the Emmys Cooper had said he was excited and a little scared. Drama classes, school productions had prepared him in small ways but nothing could have fully anticipated this level of attention. He described the process of filming Adolescence as intense and transformative. For him the recognition confirms that risk taking stepping out of comfort zones can pay off.

The reaction from fans, critics, and industry peers was swift. Many praised both the show and Cooper’s performance for its honesty and intensity. Some noted that Adolescence feels especially timely by pushing conversations about youth, identity, guilt, and how society responds when a young person is suddenly cast into the worst kind of spotlight. The Emmy win gives the series broader legitimacy and increases expectations for what creators in the limited-series format might try next.

Cooper’s win also raises questions about what comes next. As someone so young now thrust into this kind of visibility he faces both opportunity and pressure. Will future roles live up to the promise of this performance? Can he maintain groundedness amid attention? And will Adolescence continue exploring complex themes without losing its emotional core? For now what matters most is the moment itself of a young actor earning recognition not as a novelty but on merit.

Above all the win feels like an inflection point. Awards are often retrospective, but Cooper’s victory feels forward-looking. It speaks of changing norms in TV casting and storytelling. It underlines that sometimes a first role can carry weight, that new talent can emerge in unexpected places and leave a lasting impact. Owen Cooper entering the record books is a reminder that in television the promise of tomorrow often lives in the performances of today.