Owen Cooper, the breakout star of Netflix’s Adolescence, has won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor, adding yet another accolade to his record-breaking collection. This remarkable achievement for the 16-year-old actor marks a stellar moment in his early career, completing a stunning full set of major U.S. TV awards. Cooper had already become the youngest actor ever to win the Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, Actor Award, and Critics' Choice for his compelling performance in Adolescence.
The win at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards further cements Cooper’s place in TV history. His performance in Adolescence, a four-part Netflix series co-created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, has earned him critical acclaim for his portrayal of Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a female classmate. Cooper’s performance has not only earned him accolades at the BAFTA TV Awards but has also contributed to Adolescence's remarkable awards run, including wins at the Gotham Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and Royal Television Society Awards.
In a heartfelt moment, Cooper reflected on his meteoric rise in the industry. “Wow, it’s heavy, that’s to be fair. A year ago this time last year, I was presenting an award, and now I’m collecting one, so this is a bit mad,” he said during his acceptance speech. Cooper went on to thank his Adolescence family and shared words of inspiration from John Lennon: “You won’t get anything unless you have the vision to imagine it.”
Cooper’s pivotal role in Adolescence earned particular recognition for a remarkable hour-long continuous take filmed opposite Erin Doherty, who played clinical psychologist Briony Ariston. This central episode, which captivated audiences and critics alike, was even nominated for the BAFTA TV’s Memorable Moment Award. At the same ceremony, Cooper’s co-star Christine Tremarco, who played his mother in the series, also won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress, solidifying Adolescence’s incredible success at the awards show.
