Advertisement
Owen Cooper skyrocketed to fame with his breakout role in Netflix’s limited series Adolescence. As Jaime, a teenager convicted of murdering his classmate, the young actor left a lasting impression on viewers. Despite this meteoric rise, Cooper is still a 15-year-old school student navigating the complexities of fame.
Returning to school after the release of the series brought unexpected challenges. In an interview with The New York Times, Cooper opened up about the newfound attention he received from his classmates. “It’s a bit mad,” he admitted, describing how overwhelming it was at first. However, he noted that the attention from his peers eventually waned after a day or two. “It was only a bit of a bother,” he said.
Stephen Graham, who played Cooper’s father on Adolescence, was also present during the interview and playfully inquired about the nature of the “bother.” Cooper reassured him that it wasn’t anything too serious—just the usual excitement of schoolmates rushing up to him and shouting his name before quickly running off. With a relieved smile, Graham responded, “Ah, just some silly bollocks.”
Cooper’s performance in Adolescence, where he portrayed a frightened yet psychotic teenager, garnered widespread praise. The series, known for its one-shot scenes, showcased his impressive ability to capture the emotional intensity of his character.
Reflecting on his path to acting, Cooper shared that he never initially aspired to be an actor. “I grew up wanting to be a footballer,” he revealed. Acting hadn’t been on his radar until he decided to join acting classes as a hobby. Soon, he became hooked and began taking the craft more seriously. He attended The Drama MOB in Manchester, where he and other students would read scripts together. When the opportunity for a self-tape audition for Adolescence came up, Cooper took it in stride. “I just took it on the chin, really, and just did it,” he said.
Looking back at his performance, Cooper confessed that watching himself on screen was both “weird” and amazing. He’s now preparing for his next big project, portraying a young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which will also star Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Adolescence is currently streaming on Netflix.