‘Adolescence’ Star Owen Cooper Becomes Youngest Emmy Supporting Actor Winner

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2025 - Fifteen-year-old Owen Cooper clinched the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series at tonight’s 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, making him the youngest winner ever in the category. Cooper was honored for his role as Jamie Miller in Netflix’s four-episode teen crime drama Adolescence.

The win cements Adolescence’s cultural impact and highlights the series’ bold single-take storytelling. Cooper’s nuanced performance of a 13-year-old murder suspect resonated with critics and audiences alike, driving the show to 140 million views in its first three months and prompting discussions on youth violence and toxic masculinity.

Key Highlights

• Historic Emmy victory: Cooper, aged 15, surpasses record set in 1984 by a 14-year-old winner.
• Innovative format: Each episode of Adolescence is filmed in a single unbroken shot, intensifying viewer immersion.
• Industry buzz: The limited series is favored to win Best Limited Series after earning multiple nominations.

Unprecedented Youngest Winner Cooper, who filmed Adolescence at age 14, bested veteran nominees including Javier Bardem and Bill Camp. His portrayal of Jamie Miller, accused of killing a classmate, combined vulnerability and intensity, earning praise for its emotional depth and restraint.

Single-Take Cinematography Directed by Philip Barantini, Adolescence unfolds in real time across four continuous shots, heightening tension and spotlighting Cooper’s raw performance. The format has been lauded as “a technical marvel” that amplifies the story’s urgent themes.

On-Stage Moment Before the ceremony, Jake Gyllenhaal gifted Cooper a miniature golden duck for luck, a gesture captured in a Netflix social media video. “Keep it in your pocket for a bit of luck,” Gyllenhaal told the young actor, who beamed as he accepted the charm just hours before his historic win.

Looking Ahead With tonight’s award, Adolescence is positioned as the frontrunner for Best Limited Series. Its Emmy success underscores growing industry appetite for unflinching explorations of adolescent experiences and innovative storytelling techniques.