British actor Owen Cooper has become the youngest male ever to win a primetime Emmy Award, in a night dominated by Netflix’s acclaimed drama Adolescence.
Cooper, 15, was named best supporting actor in a limited series for his portrayal of a schoolboy accused of murdering a classmate.
The four-part drama also won best limited series, as well as prizes for its directing and writing, and acting prizes for Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty.
In his acceptance speech, Cooper said: “Standing up here is just, wow, it’s just 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.”
Cooper, who played teenager Jamie Miller, said: “I think tonight proves if you listen, and you focus and you step out 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.”
He also thanked his family, co-stars, and the show’s production team, adding: “It may have my name on this award, but it really belongs to the people behind the camera.”
Cooper broke the record previously held by Scott Jacoby, who was 16 years old when he won a Primetime Emmy in 1973 for That Certain Summer.
Roxana Zal remains the youngest acting winner overall. She was 14 when she won an Emmy in 1984 for Something About Amelia. Bindi Irwin is the youngest person to have won a Daytime Emmy, when she was nine.
Credit: bbc.com
