Teen actor Owen Cooper has etched his name in awards history after clinching the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series at this year’s Actor Awards, previously known as the SAG Awards. At just 16 years old, Cooper surpassed the record set by Kate Winslet, who was 20 when she won for her role as Marianne Dashwood in Ang Lee’s 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.
Cooper earned the accolade for his chilling portrayal of a 13-year-old schoolboy who murders a female classmate in the Netflix hit Adolescence. Competing against a strong lineup, including Stephen Graham, who played his character’s father and co-created the series with Jack Thorne, Cooper’s performance captured the attention of the jury.
Unable to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles, Cooper’s award was accepted by presenter Damson Idris, who joked, “I’ll be taking this home, thank you.” Despite his absence, the young actor’s achievement continues a streak of critical acclaim.
Currently, Cooper is filming Cry to Heaven, the latest directorial project from fashion designer Tom Ford, based on Anne Rice’s 1982 novel. The movie follows a castrated nobleman in 18th-century Italy who becomes an opera soprano, and stars an ensemble including Adele, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Colin Firth, Thandiwe Newton, Paul Bettany, and Pedro Pascal’s trans sister Lux. The production is taking place in Italy and the UK, which explains Cooper’s absence from the awards show.
Cooper first gained recognition for Adolescence at age 15, when he became the youngest male actor to win a Primetime Emmy for a supporting role in a limited series. He told reporters backstage that the honor “means so much to me, my family, people back home,” highlighting the personal significance of his breakthrough.
This landmark win cements Cooper’s rising status in Hollywood while breaking longstanding records, continuing the momentum generated by Adolescence and its acclaimed cast.
