Owen Cooper, 15, Becomes Youngest Male Emmy Winner

The world of television saw history being made at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 14, 2025. British actor Owen Cooper, only 15 years old, became the youngest male ever to win a Primetime Emmy Award. His win came on a night dominated by Netflix’s powerful drama series Adolescence, which walked away with multiple top prizes.

Cooper’s award was for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his gripping portrayal of Jamie Miller, a troubled schoolboy accused of murdering a classmate. His emotional and realistic performance won the hearts of critics, audiences, and the Emmy jury alike.

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A Record-Breaking Achievement

Before Cooper’s historic victory, the record was held by Scott Jacoby, who was 16 years old when he won in 1973 for the drama That Certain Summer. Cooper has now surpassed that record by becoming the youngest male Emmy winner at just 15.

However, he is not the youngest overall. That record still belongs to Roxana Zal, who was 14 when she won an Emmy in 1984 for Something About Amelia. In the world of Daytime Emmys, Bindi Irwin remains the youngest winner ever, after receiving her award at the age of just nine.

Owen Cooper’s Emotional Speech

Standing on the stage of the Peacock Theatre at LA Live, Los Angeles, Cooper appeared both stunned and humbled.

In his acceptance speech, he said: “Standing up here is just, wow, it’s so surreal. 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.”

He went on to inspire young people everywhere, adding: “I think tonight proves if you listen, and you focus, and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. Who cares if you get embarrassed? Anything can be possible. I was nothing about three years ago, I’m here now.”

Cooper dedicated the award to his family, his co-stars, and the entire production team, reminding the audience that acting is always a team effort: “It may have my name on this award, but it really belongs to the people behind the camera.”

The Success of Adolescence

The night was especially remarkable for Netflix’s Adolescence, which turned into the big winner of the 2025 Emmy Awards. The four-part limited series took home awards for:

• Best Limited Series

• Best Writing

• Best Directing

• Best Lead Actor (Stephen Graham)

• Best Supporting Actress (Erin Doherty)

• Best Supporting Actor (Owen Cooper)

The show explores the powerful and sometimes destructive role of smartphones and social media in the lives of teenagers. Critics praised it for its emotional depth, realism, and courage in tackling such a sensitive subject.

Erin Doherty and Stephen Graham Shine

Actress Erin Doherty, who played a child psychologist helping Jamie in Adolescence, won Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. On stage, she praised the cast and crew: “I’d love to mention every single person involved in making this show because it was the definition of a team effort.”

She jokingly added that she would be “banging on about Owen Cooper and Adolescence for the rest of my life.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Graham delivered an emotional speech after winning Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series. Graham, who also co-wrote the drama, said: “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. So 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.”

Graham also shared the writing award with co-writer Jack Thorne, who praised the young cast, saying: “You are the flame that proved young people are going to be OK.”

A Viral Moment with Jake Gyllenhaal

Earlier in the weekend, Cooper had another memorable moment when his hero Jake Gyllenhaal surprised him during an interview. The Hollywood star even gifted him a small toy duck nicknamed the “lucky duck,” which Gyllenhaal himself had received when nominated for an Oscar. The clip of Cooper’s stunned reaction quickly went viral on social media.

Other Big Winners of the Night

While Adolescence dominated the limited series categories, other shows also had their share of glory:

• The Studio (a Hollywood satire created by Seth Rogen) won 13 comedy awards, breaking the record for most wins by a comedy in a single year. Rogen himself won Best Actor in a Comedy and joked: “I never won anything in my life. When I was a kid, I bought a used bowling trophy at an estate sale. This is really just so lovely.”

• The Pitt, a medical drama, won Best Drama Series. Its stars Katherine LaNasa and Noah Wyle both won acting awards.

• Severance, the sci-fi thriller, also shined in drama categories. Tramell Tillman became the first Black winner of Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, while Britt Lower won Best Supporting Actress. Tillman dedicated his award to his mother, saying: “Mama, you were there for me when no one else was. Your love and kindness stays with me, and this is for you.”

• Jean Smart repeated her victory for Best Leading Actress in a Comedy for Hacks, while her co-star Hannah Einbinder won her first Emmy as Best Supporting Actress. Einbinder ended her speech with the words: “Free Palestine.”

• Stephen Colbert won Outstanding Talk Series, even as his show faces cancellation. He thanked CBS and humorously asked the audience if anyone was hiring, since his entire team would soon be jobless.

• The Traitors US won Best Reality Competition Programme, while host Alan Cumming entertained the crowd by joking about the Scottish summer.

• Andor, the Star Wars spin-off, took home the award for Best Drama Writing.

• Slow Horses, a British spy thriller, won Best Directing.

• John Oliver added two more Emmys, including one for Best Scripted Variety Series.

A Ceremony with Heart and Humor

The 2025 Emmy Awards also gained praise for finishing nearly on time, something unusual in recent years. Host Nate Bargatze introduced a creative rule: he promised to donate $100,000 to charity but would reduce the amount every time someone’s speech went over the time limit. Short speeches, however, added money.

By the end of the evening, despite the ups and downs, Bargatze and CBS announced a donation of $250,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

A Night to Remember

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will be remembered as the night Owen Cooper made history. His win not only celebrated his extraordinary talent but also symbolized the rise of a new generation of actors.

With Netflix’s Adolescence sweeping the awards and powerful speeches highlighting both personal journeys and global issues, this year’s Emmys became more than just a celebration of television—it became a celebration of hope, diversity, and dreams coming true.