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Owen Cooper, the 13-year-old star of Netflix’s Adolescence, recently opened up about his reluctance to watch the series in which he portrays Jamie Miller, a boy accused of murdering a classmate. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cooper admitted that he hasn’t watched the show and likely never will. “I just don’t like watching myself,” he explained. The idea of the series being screened in schools, as some UK educators are planning to do to highlight the impact of the internet on young people, is particularly unsettling for him. “That’s my worst nightmare,” he jokingly added.
Despite his standout performance in the show, which has sparked conversations in classrooms and on social media, Cooper expressed that the subject matter is deeply personal and intense for someone his age. The miniseries, created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, addresses the dangers of digital spaces, particularly the online influences that affect young boys, leading to severe consequences. Cooper, who was unfamiliar with some of the darker aspects of online culture before working on the series, admitted that he didn’t fully grasp the meanings behind certain online behaviors like emojis. He also mentioned that, while he didn’t know much about these issues, they are clearly affecting many young people today.
Adolescence, which debuted on Netflix on March 13, has received praise for its gripping storytelling and innovative filming technique. Each episode is shot in one continuous take, adding to the realism and intensity of the story. Stephen Graham, who co-created the show, also stars as Jamie’s father, Eddie Miller. While there’s been speculation about a possible second part to the series, there has been no official confirmation from Netflix or the creators.
For Cooper, the experience of working on the show was eye-opening, helping him understand how pervasive these online issues are, even if they aren’t always discussed openly. However, despite the success of Adolescence, the young actor seems content to avoid reliving the experience through his own performance on screen.