Owen Cooper, the 15-year-old star of Netflix's hit limited series Adolescence, is in contention to become the youngest-ever male Emmy winner after earning a nomination for supporting actor in a limited series or movie.
Cooper's portrayal of Jamie Miller, a troubled teenager accused of murder in the dark drama, helped the show secure 13 nominations at the 76th Emmy Awards. The Warrington schoolboy — who was 14 when the series was filmed — was among the British contingent who attended pre-Emmy events in Los Angeles ahead of the ceremony on Sunday.
At Netflix's pre-Emmy toast on Friday, Cooper, accompanied by his mother Noreen, a carer, and his father Andy, who works in IT, said the experience had been life-changing. "I will never forget this for the rest of my life," he said. "If I break the record that would be cool. It's all next level. This time last year I didn't know what I'd be doing. Never could I have believed that this show would change my life in the way that it has."
Adolescence, which has become one of Netflix's most-watched series, also earned nominations in the Best Limited or Anthology Series category and multiple acting categories. The series won two major prizes at the 2025 National TV Awards, taking Best New Drama and Best Drama Performance, the latter awarded to Cooper. He did not attend the UK ceremony; co-star Amari Bacchus accepted on his behalf and shared a pre-recorded message from Cooper.
If Cooper wins the Emmy for supporting actor, he would surpass the long-standing record held by Scott Jacoby, who won the supporting-actor Emmy at age 16 in 1973 for That Certain Summer. The Daily Mail reported that industry observers had called the decision to enter Cooper in the supporting-actor field, rather than lead actor, a strategic move that could improve his chances.
Cooper faces strong competition in the supporting-actor category, including his Adolescence co-star Ashley Walters for his role as DI Luke Bascombe, Javier Bardem for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Bill Camp for Presumed Innocent, Peter Sarsgaard for Rob Delaney and Rob Delaney for Dying for Sex. Stephen Graham, who plays Cooper's on-screen father, is nominated in the lead-actor category for his performance in the series.
Other British nominees at the Emmys this year include Gary Oldman for Slow Horses, Aimee Lou Wood and Jason Isaacs for The White Lotus, Colin Farrell for The Penguin and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Irish actress Sharon Horgan, nominated for Bad Sisters, was photographed at a talent-agency event alongside Monica Lewinsky during the pre-Emmy weekend.
Adolescence's 13 nominations reflect the show's critical and popular impact since its release. The limited series joined nominees such as Black Mirror, Dying for Sex, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and The Penguin in the Best Limited or Anthology Series category.
Cooper's rapid rise from a schoolboy in Warrington to an Emmy contender has been noted across industry coverage. Filmed when he was 14, his performance received early acclaim, and the show's success at both national and international awards has drawn attention to its cast and creative team.
The Emmys will determine whether Cooper adds an unprecedented accolade to his growing résumé. Regardless of the night's outcome, the series' multiple nominations and its wins at the National TV Awards underline the cultural footprint Adolescence has established in the U.K. and abroad.