Sixteen-year-old Owen Cooper has just made a serious name for himself in Hollywood. On Sunday night, the young actor made history at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards by becoming the youngest person ever to win the award for Best Supporting Actor on Television. He took home the trophy for his incredible performance as Jamie Miller in the Netflix hit Adolescence – a role that has turned him into one of the most talked-about stars of last year.
Cooper’s win broke a long-standing record held by Glee star Chris Colfer, who was 20 when he won the same award back in 2010. This latest win is just the icing on the cake for Cooper, who has been on an absolute tear lately. The actor has pulled off a historic “back-to-back sweep,” winning an Emmy, a Critics’ Choice Award, and now a Golden Globe – all for the same breakout role.
A journey from drama class to the red carpet
During his acceptance speech at the Beverly Hilton, Cooper seemed genuinely blown away by the moment. As shared by People, he admitted to the crowd, “standing here with a Golden Globe, it does not feel real whatsoever.” He also took a moment to look back on how he got started, revealing that he was once the only boy in his local drama class – an experience he found pretty embarrassing at the time, but one he’s clearly grateful for now.
His performance in Adolescence has been praised by critics for its emotional maturity. In the series, he plays a 13-year-old boy whose life is turned upside down after being accused of a tragic crime. The show has been a massive hit for Netflix, racking up over 141 million views in its first few months, making it one of the platform’s most-watched series of all time.
Staying grounded amidst the fame
Despite all the awards and the global attention, Cooper seems determined to stay the same kid from Warrington, England. In an earlier report from The Economic Times, he mentioned that his family and friends are the ones keeping his feet on the ground. He even shared that going back to school after the show premiered felt surprisingly normal because the people around him still treat him like regular old Owen.
With his “lucky duck” from Jake Gyllenhaal (a gift he reportedly received at the Emmys) and a resume that’s already the envy of actors twice his age, the future looks bright for the 16-year-old. As he wrapped up his speech with a nod to his favorite football club, Liverpool F.C., shouting out “You’ll never walk alone,” it was clear that while he’s making history in Hollywood, he’s not forgetting his roots.