Owen Cooper: Adolescent extremes

This story is taken from the winter 2025 issue of Dazed, which is on sale internationally from December 5. Pre-order a copy of the magazine here.

2025 has been Owen Cooper’s year. In just a matter of months he went from being, in his own words, “a normal kid from Warrington”, to making history as the youngest ever male actor to win an Emmy award, for his starring turn in Netflix’s Adolescence. Now, he’s gearing up for the much-anticipated release of Wuthering Heights, in which he plays a young iteration of Heathcliff, under the direction of Academy award-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell, the controversial brains behind Saltburn and Promising Young Woman. 

For the 15-year-old actor, the past few months have been nothing short of a rollercoaster (if one which only goes up). But he seems surprisingly unfazed by his newfound stardom. When we speak on a grey autumn afternoon, he’s come straight from school, where he’s preparing to take his GCSEs next summer. Today’s timetable included geography, maths, German and English. “A pretty bad day, lessons-wise,” he says, knocking back a glass of squash. Like most teenagers, he “can’t stand maths”. Presumably, days with drama classes are not as bad. And there’s one big silver lining: being able to spend more time with his friends again. “That’s the only reason I go to school,” he says, smirking.

The teenager was catapulted out of ordinary life and into the limelight back in March, following the release of Adolescence. In the series, he stars as Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old schoolboy who stands accused of murdering a female classmate. Each episode in the four-part series was filmed in a single, continuous shot, earning Cooper acclaim for his indefatigable ability to stay in character during hour-long takes. A doubly impressive feat, given that Jamie is a thorny tangle of a boy: it comes to light that he is guilty of his classmate’s murder, having been corrupted by extreme, misogynistic content on social media.

Almost overnight, the show became a lightning rod. It sparked mainstream conversations about increasingly urgent social issues: the desperately dark underbelly of social media; misogyny and inceldom; the loneliness and emotional isolation that plagues so many young men. Even Keir Starmer said that watching the show “hit home hard”, supporting a move by Netflix to make it available to screen for free in secondary schools. Knowing the prime minister had watched his performance was “crazy”, Cooper says. “I don’t think anyone expected it to blow up in the way that it did.”

Cooper’s performance in Adolescence earned him his record-breaking Emmy for outstanding supporting actor. But despite his already myriad accomplishments, it’s clear that he has much, much more to give. Here, we speak to the rising star about his historic Emmy win, working with Jacob Elordi and Emerald Fennell on Wuthering Heights, and his dreams for the future.

The past year must have been a whirlwind for you. How did you feel when you accepted the job on Adolescence? Did you know it would turn out to be as life-changing as it was?

Owen Cooper: Not at all, no. I didn’t really know what it was when I auditioned for it. I’d never been on a film set before. I didn’t really care what I had to do or what the show was, or if anyone would even watch it. It was only during the audition process that I found out it was a Netflix show. I didn’t know if I wanted to be famous… but during filming I didn’t really think about the Netflix side of it all. I just tried to focus on filming.

When the show came out, I had no idea what to expect. I thought that people might watch it in the UK, but it’s obviously resonated with people and travelled globally. But when we were on set I don’t think anyone expected it to blow up in the way that it did. So when there was talk about the Emmys, that was mad. No one knew that was going to happen.

The show generated such a huge reaction – even Keir Starmer watched it and encouraged teachers to show it in schools. How did it make you feel to know that the prime minister was so affected by your performance?

Owen Cooper: It was crazy – the fact that the show’s getting that far is just… I mean, I think that’s where it deserves to be. That’s where the show aimed to be: in parliament, in places where changes happen. But it was quite mad to hear that [about Keir Starmer]. 

One of the big themes in Adolescence is the impact social media is having on young people. As a young person growing up in this landscape, what has your experience with social media been like?

Owen Cooper: I’ve had Snapchat and TikTok and Instagram since around year 7. I only use Snapchat for my mates; I don’t add any randoms on it, especially not now. But obviously there are problems that kids are having with social media. I’m lucky enough to not have had those sorts of problems. I have come across some dodgy videos – when Andrew Tate came about, he blew up, didn’t he? But I don’t know – I don’t really see his videos on my Instagram or TikTok. I’m lucky. I’ve not really had many problems with it. I just ignore it. I scroll right past it. But obviously some people get sucked into it.

Your performance made you the youngest male actor ever to win an Emmy award. What was going through your head when your name was read out?

Owen Cooper: When we were on the bus there, [my publicist] told me that Sydney Sweeney was doing my category. So when they called out Sydney Sweeney I was like, ‘Oh no, this is my category.’ I just had my head down, I was so nervous. Then when they said ‘and the Emmy goes to…’, I was shaking. And then they said my name, and all of the nerves and stress were just off my shoulders. I remember sitting back in my seat [after accepting the award]; I could have fallen asleep because I was so tired from the adrenaline of going up on stage.

What was it like going back to school after the win?

Owen Cooper: My friends aren’t really bothered. They messaged me saying ‘well done‘, but they don’t really care. The teachers cared, obviously – they were going mad about it. But my friends don’t really look at stuff about me on the internet. And I’m actually glad that they don’t – when I was filming the show, I did think, ‘What if everyone changes? What if all my friends change?’ But I still get shouted at by the teachers in school. I still get the mick taken out of me. It’s all good. I’m glad they haven’t changed.

Stephen Graham [a co-producer on the show who also plays Jamie’s dad] was very keen to make sure he got an actor from the north to play Jamie; he has even said that he feels your success was Adolescence’s biggest achievement. Do you think it’s harder to break into the entertainment industry when you’re not from London?

Owen Cooper: No! There are many agencies in the north that bring in young kids like me and help them to rise to the top. Like the Drama Mob, which was my old agency, and I had acting lessons there – that’s located in Manchester. They got me on Adolescence; I’m forever grateful to them. Obviously, there is a lot of acting stuff going on down in London, but a lot of filming goes on in the north now too. We filmed Adolescence in Leeds. We started filming Wuthering Heights in London but then moved up to Yorkshire. A lot of filming actually happens near me – near Manchester and Liverpool. The north isn’t any different from London.

I still get shouted at by the teachers in school. I still get the mick taken out of me. It’s all good. I’m glad they haven’t changed – Owen Cooper

What was filming Wuthering Heights like?

Owen Cooper: We started filming it in January. The set and the costume and make-up was so weird to me, because I’d never done that before. I had to shave my head. I hated it. I think I had to cut my hair an inch shorter than it normally is for Adolescence, and I hated that as well, never mind cutting all it off. They didn’t even tell me they were going to shave it! I just went on set one day and one of the assistant directors told me I [was getting] a haircut. When I got in the chair, I was like, ‘What’s the haircut?’ and Siân [Miller], the hair and make-up designer, said, ‘It’s all getting cut off, everything.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I hated it! But if it’s for a role, I’ll do it.

How would you describe Heathcliff? Like Jamie, he’s a complicated young man.

Owen Cooper: He is complicated. He’s in his own world, but he’s lost as well. He comes from a rough background. I learned about his background a lot because, obviously, I’m playing his background, in flashback. Jacob [Elordi] and I would talk about the character and he would help me with the lines and [we’d practise] the accent. Jacob’s accent is unbelievable. I remember him coming up to me and speaking in a fluent Yorkshire accent. I was like, ‘What is going on? He’s Australian!’

What was it like working with him? And Margot Robbie?

Owen Cooper: They were lovely people. You’d expect these massive A-list stars to be like, ‘I don’t want to speak to you.’ But every single famous person that I’ve met has been unreal. And Margot and Jacob are amazing at what they do. I can’t wait to see the movie. I’ve only watched around half an hour of it, but it is looking good.

Obviously, the film is based on the Emily Brontë novel – are you into books? Or are you more into films and TV?

Owen Cooper: Definitely films and TV. I don’t really read a lot of books, but Stephen [Graham] and Erin [Doherty] always tell me I need to start reading, so I might have to get into it soon. I didn’t even know what Wuthering Heights was before I started filming.

What was the last thing you watched that you enjoyed?

Owen Cooper: Um…

Sorry, I’ve put you on the spot there.

Owen Cooper: No, it’s fine – it’s just a lot of the stuff I watch is rated 18, and I’m not allowed to say it… but I’m gonna say it anyway [laughs]. That Ed Gein show [from Ryan Murphy’s Netflix Monster series] is unreal. It was mindblowing to watch. If Charlie Hunnam doesn’t win an Emmy for that I’ll be shouting about it. He’s unbelievable. I’ve also started watching Stranger Things again, because I need to watch it all again before the new season comes out. I’m obsessed with Stranger Things.

I’d love to be Ghostface from Scream. Or I’d even love to do a Monster series. I bet Ryan Murphy is good to work with – Owen Cooper

What was it like working with Emerald Fennell as a director?

Owen Cooper: She’s very good at keeping people on their toes – I think people are intrigued to see what she does with Wuthering Heights.

How do you think audiences will react?

Owen Cooper: Hopefully they’ll react in a positive way. I’ve already seen a lot of bad things said about the film. But from what I’ve seen of it, the set in particular is mindblowing. The landscape that is used in the film is just… it’s like watching David Attenborough. The nature that Emerald uses is just unbelievable. But, yeah. I like my scenes. I’ve watched the start and the ending too, which is one of the best endings I’ve ever seen.

Heathcliff is an iconic character. Are there any other famous characters from books or other films or TV series that you’d like to play one day?

Owen Cooper: I’d love to be Ghostface from Scream. I’ve watched every single Scream movie. Or I’d even love to do a Monster series. I bet Ryan Murphy is good to work with. And Spider-Man, I’d love to do that – I’ve wanted to do that since I was a kid.

I just crack on, really. School is good for normality. That’s the only reason I go – Owen Cooper

Have you been able to chill out and spend more time with your family and friends now you’ve finished filming Wuthering Heights?

Owen Cooper: Yeah, definitely. I went to Portugal during the summer holidays. I’ve been going out with my mates, playing padel and football, stuff like that. It’s been a nice, chilled summer. I’ve not been too busy recently. I’ve just been back at school.

Is that what you enjoy doing to feel a bit more normal – just spending time with your friends?

Owen Cooper: The teachers told my mum they could put me in different classes so I wouldn’t get bothered. But I didn’t really want that. I just wanted everything to go back to how it was. I just crack on, really. School is good for normality – that’s the only reason I go.

What’s next for you? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Owen Cooper: Five years! Hopefully working, because I’m just bored to death not being on a film set. But I don’t know. Five years… that’s a long time. We’ll have to wait and see. Hopefully I’ll still be working with amazing people and doing exactly what I’m doing right now.

Hair Nero at MA+ Talent using Bumble and bumble., make-up Allie Smith at MA+ Talent using M.A.C, set design Madeleine Peacock, photographic assistant Chen Xiangyun, styling assistant Darlene Park, Jonas Harris, Malcolm D Costa, production TJ Silon at Rosco Production, production assistants Joey Jennings, Evy Brain, post-production My Own Color Lab, special thanks Gary’s Loft, casting gk-ld.

This story is taken from the winter 2025 issue of Dazed, which is on sale internationally from December 5. Pre-order a copy of the magazine here.