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Owen Cooper Poised to Make Emmy History at Just 15
In 1973, Scott Jacoby made history by becoming the youngest male actor to win a Primetime Emmy Award, capturing the Best Drama Supporting Actor trophy at the age of 16 for his role in That Certain Summer. Fast forward 52 years, and Owen Cooper, just 15 years old, is on the brink of possibly breaking that record with his performance in Adolescence at the 2025 Emmys.
Jacoby remained active in the industry until 1991, with his final credited performance in Son of Darkness: To Die for II. On the other hand, the youngest female winners of the Emmy include Roxana Zal, who won at age 14 for Something About Amelia in 1984, and Kristy McNichol, who seized her first award at 15 for Family in 1977 and won again in 1979, making her one of the youngest to achieve multiple Emmy wins.
Cooper takes on the role of Jamie Miller in Adolescence, a gripping crime drama where his character is a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a schoolmate. As Jamie navigates the intricacies of the legal system, his father, portrayed by Stephen Graham, begins to question his son’s innocence. The series, co-created and co-written by Graham and Jack Thorne, features four episodes shot in a single take, presenting a unique storytelling approach that immerses viewers in Jamie’s tumultuous journey.
In the category where Cooper is nominated for Best Movie/Limited Series Actor, the age record was previously held by Anthony Murphy, who won at age 17 for Tom Brown’s Schooldays in 1973. Remarkably, that performance was the pinnacle of his acting career, after which he found success as a painter in Europe.
Cooper’s audition for the role went viral, showcasing his talent at just 13 years old. Fans were captivated by his ability to seamlessly shift from innocence to anger, prompting many to predict a bright future in the industry for him. One viewer commented, “This boy is gonna be a big star,” while another noted his impressive emotional range.
Similar to Baby Reindeer, which received critical acclaim, Adolescence is shaping up to be a formidable contender as it embarks on its Emmy campaign. The latter series has already garnered impressive accolades, including six Emmys and multiple awards for its lead star, Richard Gadd.
Since its premiere on March 13, Adolescence has not only launched with a perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes but also achieved a remarkable score of 90 on Metacritic. Currently, it stands as a leading contender for the Best Limited Series Emmy, closely followed by The Penguin. For Cooper, the competition is stiff as he sits in third place for Best Movie/Limited Actor, trailing behind forecasted frontrunners Colin Farrell for The Penguin and Kevin Kline for Disclaimer.
In its opening days, Adolescence amassed an astonishing 24.3 million views and quickly ascended to the top of Netflix’s English TV charts. During its second week, it set a new record for limited series, accumulating a total of 66.3 million views across the platform.
Aside from Cooper and Graham, the cast includes several other talented individuals, such as Erin Doherty, Ashley Walters, and Christine Tremarco, all of whom are eyeing potential Emmy nominations as well.
Source
www.goldderby.com