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Owen Cooper, the breakout star of the hit series Adolescence, has recently opened up about the real-world influences that can lead someone into the same kind of troubling situations his character, Jamie Miller, faces. The young actor shared his thoughts with The Hollywood Reporter, reflecting on the growing impact of online communities, especially the “manosphere,” and how it can shape people, particularly teens.
Cooper admitted that the online world was initially an “eye-opener” for him, especially when it came to understanding the significance of emojis that are commonly shared among young people today. “I was glad I didn’t have an idea of what was going on—the emojis and the meanings behind them,” he said, adding that even his friends were in the same boat, unaware of these online trends. Still, he acknowledged that just because they didn’t fully understand these nuances doesn’t mean they’re not affecting real lives. “It’s obviously happening across the country,” Cooper stated.
The actor also discussed the potential for his character, Jamie, to have been saved from the situation he finds himself in, suggesting that Jamie’s life could have turned out differently with more thoughtful guidance. “He could have been more protected,” Cooper reflected, considering how the influence of those around Jamie could have steered him in another direction.
Cooper elaborated on the role of Jamie’s family in the series, explaining that Jamie’s mom and Eddie (his father) were unaware of the negative influences Jamie was encountering online. “Eddie and his mum could have just told him to come off [his phone]. Simple things like that could stop someone from changing their life,” Cooper said. He emphasized that Jamie’s life would never be the same after the choices he made, highlighting the series’ exploration of the consequences of the digital world on young minds.
Adolescence has become a massive hit, now ranking as the fourth-most-watched show of all time on Netflix. Its success has not only resonated with a global audience but also sparked important conversations about the impact of the internet on teens, making Owen Cooper’s reflections even more timely.