Adolescence Star Owen Cooper Created History At 2026 Golden Globes - Who Is He?

Owen Cooper has created history at the Golden Globes. The 83rd Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2026, will be remembered as the night 16-year-old Owen Cooper made history by becoming the youngest ever

winner of the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series. The British actor won for his powerful performance in Netflix’s acclaimed drama Adolescence. During his acceptance speech, Owen said, “Standing here at the Golden Globes, it does not feel real whatsoever. What an incredible journey me and my family have been put through." He went on to add, "We are forever grateful for what these people have done for me and my family."

Owen Cooper’s Meteoric Rise: From First Role to Global Stardom

Born on December 5, 2009, in Warrington, England, for Owen, acting was a passion, not a profession before Adolescence. He was a typical teenager, part of a working-class family with everyday interests, including early dreams of becoming a footballer. As per reports, he joined weekly drama classes with The Drama Mob in Manchester, initially just exploring his interest in performing, not expecting to land a major screen role.However, his breakthrough role came when the creators of Netflix drama Adolescence sought a raw, untapped talent to play the central role of Jamie Miller, a trouble 13-year-old boy accused of murder. The casting team approached several drama schools in northern England seeking a young actor who could bring emotional depth to a difficult, nuanced role. Owen’s audition stood out from more than 500 contenders.

Filmed when he was just 14, Adolescence became an instant sensation. The limited series, released on Netflix, explores themes of toxic masculinity, social media pressures, identity, and grief through Jamie’s harrowing journey. Critics lauded the show for its uncompromising portrayal of youth struggles in the digital age, but it was Cooper’s chilling yet empathetic performance that quickly became the focal point of acclaim.

Owen Cooper - Golden Globes And ALL The Records

The Golden Globes 2026 marked a defining night in Cooper’s young career. Competing against seasoned actors like Billy Crudup (The Morning Show), Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus), and Walton Goggins (The White Lotus), he emerged victorious in the Best Supporting Actor - Television category. At 16, he surpassed the previous record held by Chris Colfer, who won at age 20 in 2010 for Glee, making Cooper the youngest winner ever in that category.But the records didn’t stop there. Cooper’s Golden Globe makes him the second-youngest male Golden Globe winner in any category, behind only Ricky Schroder, who scooped a Globe at age nine in 1980. This is an extraordinary feat - so rare in Hollywood award history – that it signals a generational shift and highlights a new wave of young talent commanding serious artistic recognition.

This Golden Globe is also part of a historic award “hat-trick” for Cooper. In 2025, he became the youngest male actor to win a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for the same role in Adolescence, and earlier this awards season he won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Limited Series. The sweep of these major accolades for a debut screen performance is almost unprecedented in modern television history.

Owen Cooper, Adolescence - A Success Story

While the success of Owen Cooper is undeniable and remarkable, one cannot separate it from the success of the Netflix series Adolescence itself. Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini, the series has been widely praised for its raw storytelling and social relevance. In fact, Adolescence is often described as one of Netflix’s most impactful limited series of the year. With more than 141 million views in its first three months, it became one of the platform’s most watched titles, earning both critical and audience acclaim.