By Catriona Rigney,Jessica Coates
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Adolescence star Owen Cooper has become the youngest male actor to win an Emmy, earning the award for his role in the British Netflix drama.
Owen, who is 15, who had already made history as the youngest person ever nominated for supporting actor in a limited series, told the audience at the 77th Emmy Awards that he was “nothing” just three years ago.
“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,” the English actor said in his acceptance speech. “But 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.”
Owen’s win saw him beat Scott Jacoby’s long-held record, after he won an Emmy for That Certain Summer in 1973 aged 16. However, the youngest ever Emmy winner remains Roxana Zal, who was 14 when she clinched an award for Something About Amelia in 1984.
Hollywood stars arrived at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night, 14 September, for the ceremony, hosted by US comedian Nate Bargatze.
“It says my name on the statue, but it really belongs to all of the people who worked on the show,” Owen said.
Co-stars Erin Doherty won best supporting actress in a limited series, dedicating the award to her older sister, while Stephen Graham picked up the award for lead actor in a limited series.
“I’m just a mixed-race kid from a block of flats in a place called Kirkby,” Stephen told the audience. “So, for me to be here today in front of my peers and to be acknowledged by you is the utmost humbling thing I could ever imagine in my life, and it shows you that any dream is possible.”
Severance was nominated 27 times, while crime drama mini-series The Penguin had 24 nominations and Adolescence received 13. The British drama, which dominated Netflix’s most-watched list earlier this year, centres on the story of a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a classmate.
Adolescence director Philip Barantini took home the Emmy for outstanding directing for a limited or anthology series or movie, while writers Jack Thorne and lead actor Graham won for outstanding writing in the same category.
“To Netflix, thank you for trusting us with this mad idea,” Barantini said while accepting his award. Adolescence also took home the gong for best limited or anthology series.
The night’s other major winners included Seth Rogen’s The Studio, which took home awards for best directing, best comedy series, best writing and outstanding actor in a comedy series. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver picked up two awards for variety series and outstanding scripted variety series.
Severance star Tramell Tillman made history as the first black man to win the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, while his co-star Britt Lower won the award for outstanding lead actress in the same category.
The Pitt won best drama series, with its stars Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa taking home awards for outstanding lead actor and supporting actress, respectively.
Dame Maggie Smith, musicians Ozzy Osbourne and Quincy Jones, Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg and director David Lynch were among the famous faces honoured in an In Memoriam slideshow.
