Adolescence star Owen Cooper made history when he won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series at the Actor Awards, which were known as the until they were rechristened this year.
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Owen Cooper Breaks Record at Actor Awards!
Adolescence star Owen Cooper made history when he won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series at the Actor Awards, which were kn...
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The 16-year-old became the youngest individual winner in the history of the ceremony, breaking the record previously held by .
Winslet was 20 when she won her first gong for her portrayal of Marianne Dashwood in Ang Lee's 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, which also starred , and .
Now her crown has been snatched by Cooper for his chilling turn in Adolescence as a 13-year-old schoolboy who murders a female classmate.
He beat out a category that included Stephen Graham, who played his character's father on the miniseries and also co-created it with Jack Thorne.
Cooper was unable to appear in person in , so presenter accepted the prize on his behalf, quipping that 'I’ll be taking this home, thank you.'
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Adolescence star Owen Cooper made history when he won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series at the Actor Awards; pictured on the series
His record as youngest winner ever was previously held by Kate Winslet for her triumph in 1996; she was not at the SAG Awards that year but is pictured at the same season's BAFTAs
His absence went unexplained, but his movie Cry to Heaven - the next directorial effort from fashion designer Tom Ford - is currently being filmed, per IMDb.
Based on a 1982 novel by Anne Rice, the upcoming motion picture centers a castrated nobleman in 18th century Italy who becomes an opera soprano.
Sinners earned surprise wins in the top categories at the Actor Awards 2026
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Ensemble in a Drama Series: The Pitt
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Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Studio
Male Actor in a Drama Series: Seth Rogen - The Studio
Female Actor in a Drama Series: Catherine O'Hara - The Studio
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Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Michelle Williams -
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Winslet was 20 when she won for her portrayal of Marianne Dashwood in the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, in which she is pictured with Greg Wise
Last September, aged 15, Cooper became the youngest male actor ever to win a Primetime Emmy, earning the gong for a supporting role in a limited series or anthology
Cooper noted that his friends in the UK were 'probably not even awake' at that point, inasmuch as it was 'about four in the morning at home,' but added that the would 'be over the moon' and that he 'can't wait to tell them.'
Then in January, while studying for his GCSEs, he became the youngest ever recipient of the Golden Globe best supporting actor on television.
That honor made him the second-youngest Golden Globe winner in history, after The Champ star Ricky Schroder, who was nine when he won new star of the year in 1980.
In his acceptance speech, Cooper recalled: ''What started off as what I thought I might be okay at, I might be awful at - I took a risk and I went to drama classes. I was the only boy there. It was embarrassing but I got through it.'
He added that he was 'still very much an apprentice, I'm still learning every day, I'm still every day learning from the people sat in front of me who have inspired me. I wouldn't be here without you guys. This is mad. What is going on?'
Adolescence has been showered with glory during awards season, not just for Cooper but also Graham and their co-star Erin Doherty.
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