Owen Cooper audition tape shows his Emmy-winning power
Netflix’s Adolescence star Owen Cooper has captivated fans once again with the release of his audition tape, just days after making history as the youngest-ever male Emmy winner at age 15.
Cooper won Best Supporting Actor at the Primetime Emmy Awards for his breakout portrayal of Jamie Miller — a teen drawn into dark online forums and accused of murder. The part was remarkably his first acting job.
Casting director Shaheen Baig invited UK drama clubs to submit self-tapes for the lead role early last year. Cooper’s raw and honest performance impressed director Philip Barantini and creators Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne.
“In the first tape you had to act innocent when you hadn’t done anything wrong, and in the second you had to act guilty,” Cooper explained, reflecting on his intense auditions.
Barantini praised Cooper’s natural presence: “He wasn’t acting, he was just being. That’s rare.” Despite initial nerves, Cooper grew confident, crediting the supportive on-set environment.
Although Cooper landed the lead role, Graham revealed that other finalists were also offered roles to ensure all young actors felt valued.
On Emmy night, Cooper received a standing ovation from the audience as he accepted his award from Sydney Sweeney, dedicating it to the entire Adolescence team.
Alongside Cooper’s historic win, Adolescence bagged eight Emmys including Best Limited Series, Best Actor for Graham, and Best Supporting Actress for Erin Doherty — cementing the show’s success.
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