Owen Cooper and the Power of the Arts

How Owen Cooper’s Historic Win Inspires Other Young Actors

By: Fiona Smith

---

Credit: Richard Shotwell/Invision/A

---

Just a few years ago, Owen Cooper was a typical tween boy, attending school and playing soccer with his friends. Now, he finds himself making history and starring on-screen beside some of the biggest names in acting of our generation.

This year’s Emmy Awards were nothing shy of excitement, especially for the hit Netflix show, Adolescence, which took home eight Emmys. Owen Cooper won one of these coveted awards in the Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category. He was awarded for his gripping performance as Jamie Miller, a teenage boy arrested for the murder of his female classmate. 

While the night celebrated many triumphs for Adolescence, it was Owen’s win that carved out a place in the record books.

At just 15 years old, Owen is the youngest male ever to win a Primetime Emmy Award. If that isn’t impressive enough, Owen’s performance in the show was his first professional acting job.

Owen only began taking acting classes a few years ago at The Drama Mob theater group in Manchester. Before that, he had his sights set on becoming a professional soccer player, just like every other British kid his age. He was inspired to get into acting after seeing fellow British actor Tom Holland’s performance in The Impossible. 

Behind the decision to pursue acting was a family that remained grounded. Owen’s family has no previous ties to the entertainment industry: His father works in IT, his mother works as a caregiver and his two older brothers are electricians. Despite this, Owen’s talent has flourished under their continued encouragement and support in his interest in acting. 

“When I started these drama classes a couple of years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here,” Owen said in his Emmys acceptance speech. “I think tonight proves that if you listen, and you focus, and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life.”

Owen is continuing to juggle his newfound fame with school, yet this is just the beginning of his career. He is already set to star alongside Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights as the young Heathcliff, which is set to release next year. 

Stories like Owen’s highlight a broader issue: The importance of providing access to the arts for the next generation, especially for those who come from “regular” families and walks of life.

Access to the arts is proven to be essential for young people. It promotes cognitive development, improves social and emotional skills and enhances academic achievement—all of which contribute to fostering long-term career aspirations and civic involvement. 

Participating in the arts also encourages creativity, problem-solving skills and overall well-being, which supports long-term success and healthy growth.

Education in the arts helps kids stay in school. Youth who receive an arts education are more likely to have better attitudes toward learning and have a secure outlet for self-expression. They also gain confidence and develop a deeper understanding of the world and their place within it. 

Owen’s journey is proof of that impact. 

In an interview with the BBC, some of his teachers from his drama school said their "eyes were just drawn to him" when he first arrived. Co-founder of The Drama Mob, Esther Morgan said he had "something about him that made you just wanted to watch him.” 

The other school’s co-founder and Coronation Street star Tina O’Brien said Owen’s success had shown children from Manchester that “not everything has to be taken away to London.”

Owen’s success has also inspired his peers, who are beginning to feel like they, too, can make a name for themselves in the industry.

O’Brien added, “We have so much talent in the North,” expressing hope that productions cast and filmed in the region, like Adolescence, will inspire more film companies to follow suit.

Owen’s story is proof of what access to the arts can achieve. His historic Emmy win is just one milestone in a career still unfolding. 

But for his teachers, peers and the community he represents, it’s a reminder of the transformative power of an arts education—and how an ordinary kid with the proper support and opportunities can achieve extraordinary things.

---

Fiona Smith is a senior majoring in Journalism. She loves anything and everything related to entertainment and pop culture, and she is always up-to-date on the latest celebrity news. When she’s not writing or editing, you can probably find her reading (shocker, we know) or watching some random episode of reality TV (or baseball when it’s in season #LGM). She is so excited for the next issue of Rowdy and can’t wait for you all to see what we’ve been cooking up this semester!