'Adolescence' star Owen Cooper becomes category's youngest Emmy winner
"Adolescence" star Owen Cooper has made Emmys history.
The actor, who starred in the Netflix limited series, won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie on Sunday night, making him the youngest male acting winner in the category.
In his acceptance speech, Cooper called his win "so surreal."
"Honestly when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn't expect to be even in the United States, never mind here," he said. "I think tonight proves that, if you listen and you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life."
He continued, " I was nothing about three years ago. I'm here now so I think if you're listening and you're focusing, you step out of your comfort zone just a little bit. Who cares if you get embarrassed?'
He added, "Anything is possible," thanking his parents, Netflix and "Adolescence" actor and creator Stephen Graham.
In "Adolescence," Owen plays 13-year-old Jamie Miller, whose world is turned upside down when he is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl named Katie, a fellow student at his school.
The four-part U.K. drama series also explores the loss of adolescence and the complexities of youth.
In response to the series, the British government backed an initiative to make the show available in all secondary schools across the U.K.
When Cooper was nominated in July, his nomination made him the youngest nominee in history of the category, according to a press release.
The record was previously held by Scott Jacoby, who was 16 when he was nominated for outstanding performance by an actor in a supporting role in drama for the 1972 TV movie, "That Certain Summer," the Television Academy confirmed at the time to "Good Morning America."
Jacoby won the Emmy in that category in 1973.
Also nominated in the category alongside Cooper were Javier Bardem for "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," Bill Camp for "Presumed Innocent," Rob Delaney for "Dying for Sex," Peter Sarsgaard for "Presumed Innocent" and Ashley Walters for "Adolescence."
"Adolescence" also took home the Emmy on Sunday night for directing and writing for a limited or anthology series or movie.
Actress Erin Doherty also won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie for her performance in the series.
See the full list of winners here.
