Owen Cooper, 16, Reveals How He Stays Grounded amid Rising Fame After "Adolescence "Success Nicholas Rice, Yamillah HurtadoJanuary 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM 0 Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Courtesy of Netflix Owen Cooper in January 2026, Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence.' Owen Cooper opened up about staying grounded amid his newfound fame and success in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE "I've got the best support, best protection, so I can't not keep my feet on the ground," he said Cooper recently became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy Owen Cooper has his loved ones to keep him grounded.
- - Owen Cooper, 16, Reveals How He Stays Grounded amid Rising Fame After "Adolescence "Success
Nicholas Rice, Yamillah HurtadoJanuary 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM
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Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Courtesy of Netflix
Owen Cooper in January 2026, Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence.' -
Owen Cooper opened up about staying grounded amid his newfound fame and success in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE
"I've got the best support, best protection, so I can't not keep my feet on the ground," he said
Cooper recently became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy
Owen Cooper has his loved ones to keep him grounded.
After winning the Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television award at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, the actor, 16, spoke about how he keeps true to himself after finding massive success and fame following his role in Adolescence.
"I've got my family around me [and] I've got amazing friends, you know?" Cooper told reporters in the press room after his win. "I've got amazing people around me."
"I went to school the day after Adolescence came out, and it was just the same. I tried to keep it the same," he continued.
Cooper added, "I've got the best support, best protection, so I can't not keep my feet on the ground."
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Frazer Harrison/Getty
Owen Cooper in August 2025.
Adolescence follows a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller (Cooper), who is accused and arrested for murdering a teenage girl in his class.
Cooper is nominated for his role at this year's Golden Globes, in theBest Supporting Actor on Television category, and the Independent Spirit Awards, where he is up for Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series.
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Last year, Cooper won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role.
The feat made him the youngest male actor to win an Emmy, as well as the youngest actor to ever be nominated in the category.
Courtesy of Netflix
Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence.'
During his acceptance speech at the Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 4, Cooper spoke about his Adolescence role, and how it altered his life as he knew it.
"This past year has been a complete whirlwind for me and my family, honestly," he said. "It's changed our lives forever. We're forever grateful. We cherish every single moment of it."
Cooper was up for the award in his category against Wagner Moura (Dope Thief), Nick Offerman (Death by Lightning), Michael Peña (All Her Fault), Ashley Walters (Adolescence) and Ramy Youssef (Mountainhead).
Adolescence led this year's television nominees with six total nominations. Alongside Cooper's win, the show also won awards for Best Limited Series, Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television (Stephen Graham) and Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television (Erin Doherty).
Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix.
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: January 11, 2026 at 04:36AM on Source: RED MAG
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