Owen Cooper: how schoolboy conquered Golden Globes and changed acting for a generation

January 12, 2026

TL;DR

Owen Cooper, 16, won a Golden Globe for his role in Netflix's "Adolescence."
"Adolescence" also won multiple awards at the Emmys.
Cooper's former drama teacher, Esther Morgan, recognized his talent early on.
Morgan advocates for more opportunities for northern actors, citing an uneven playing field due to industry centralization in London.
Cooper's success is inspiring more boys to join drama classes, addressing a "huge drop-off" in male participation.
The drama "Adolescence" was filmed in Pontefract and Sheffield and features a predominantly northern cast.
Co-writer Jack Thorne hopes the show's international success could pave the way for more working-class British dramas.
GCSE drama participation in the UK shows a significant gender imbalance, with far fewer boys than girls enrolled.

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