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Further proof that Owen Cooper’s star is in the ascendency came from his peers as the history making actor mingled with the Hollywood elite on Sunday evening.
An impressive turn in Stephen Graham’s hard-hitting Netflix drama Adolescence has turned this unassuming young man from Warrington into one of Britain’s most promising stars.
And at Santa Monica venue Barker Hangar the 16-year old became the youngest ever actor to win a Critics Choice Award as the annual ceremony kicked off awards season on Sunday evening.
And his achievement did not go unnoticed by some of Hollywood’s best known stars, among them fellow award winners Jacob Elordi and Timothée Chalamet.
Elordi, best supporting actor for Netflix hit Frankenstein, was seen gripping the boy’s shoulders shortly after he was named best supporting actor for his role as Jamie Miller, a teenager accused of murdering a female classmate in Adolescence.
He later paused for a chat with Chalamet – named best actor for his starring role in Marty Supreme – and the French-American actor’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner while idling at their table.
After bagging eight Emmy‘s in 2025, Adolescence took home four more awards on Sunday evening, including Best Limited Series – with Cooper’s co-stars Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty also triumphing in their categories.
Further proof that Owen Cooper’s star is in the ascendency came from his peers as the history making actor mingled with the Hollywood elite on Sunday evening (pictured with Jacob Elordi)
The young actor paused for a chat with Chalamet – named best actor for his starring role in Marty Supreme – and the French-American actor’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner
Graham won in the Best Actor category, while Best Supporting Actress went to Doherty.
And Graham, inspired to write the show after growing alarmed by the insidious rise of ‘incel’ culture – later embraced his young protege as they based in their success.
Adolescence has averaged around 45 million views per month and become a must-watch for parents and teenagers around the world.
At 16, Cooper has already made history as the youngest male Emmy winner and has made it once again with his Critics Choice victory.
The young actor was prepared for his acceptance speech as he brought out a handwritten letter on stage.
Accepting the award, he said: ‘Thank you to the critics and to everyone behind the scenes who made this night possible.
‘This past year has been a complete whirlwind for me and my family, honestly. It’s changed our lives forever. We’re forever grateful. We cherish every single moment of it.’
Cooper triumphed over an impressive field including: Wagner Moura – Dope Thief, Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning, Michael Peña – All Her Fault, Ashley Walters – Adolescence, and Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead.
Cooper received a warm hug from Adolescence co-star Stephen Graham, who claimed the award for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
The pair were seen embracing backstage at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on Sunday night
Cooper is flanked by Michelle Lee Randolph (left) and Ali Larter (right) shortly after receiving his award
The actor was seen celebrating with Adolescence co-star Hannah Walters as the show swept the board
When Graham collected his award, he began: ‘I’d like to thank all the cast and crew, because without any one of them, none of this is possible.
‘We’re all exactly the same. When I was a kid, my mum told me, “You’re never above anyone and you’re never below anyone”. So we’re all equal. And I think the ethos that we carried into this piece, that paid off in this production.’
He added: ‘It was a unique experience. And I’d just like to say, if you’ve got any kids at home, give them a massive cuddle and tell them you love them.’
In September 2025, Cooper made history after becoming the youngest-ever male Emmy winner as the show cleaned up at the glittering ceremony in LA.
The Warrington-born teenager won Best Supporting Actor for his breathtaking performance as Jamie Miller in the four-part Netflix show. It was filmed when he was just 14.
At 16, Cooper has already made history as the youngest male Emmy winner and has made it once again with his Critics Choice victory
The actor was just 14 when he landed the role, and so convincing is his chilling portrayal that he has since bagged himself a role in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights
The four-part series sees a 13-year-old schoolboy called Jamie Miller, played by breakout star Owen, accused of brutally murdering a female classmate
Co-star Stephen Graham (pictured centre) won in the Best Actor category, while Best Supporting Actress went to Erin Doherty
Cooper was given a standing ovation as he took to the stage to receive his award from Sydney Sweeney, who gave him a hug after beating stars such as Javier Bardem to the award at the 2025 ceremony.
Chelsea Handler returned as host for the fourth consecutive year as the star-studded ceremony lit up the Barker Hangar – a glitzy night that regularly signals who’s about to dominate awards season.
Long considered one of the most accurate crystal balls in Hollywood, the Critics Choice Awards have a strong track record of forecasting Oscar glory.
That predictive power was on full display last season, when Anora used its Critics Choice Best Picture win to reassert itself after being shut out at the Golden Globe and SAG Awards, momentum it ultimately carried all the way to the Academy Awards.
Three acting winners, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña, also repeated their Critics Choice victories at the Oscars.
With the Golden Globe Awards not airing until January 11 this year, the Critics Choice Awards step into the spotlight as the first major televised ceremony of 2026, giving studios and contenders a crucial early boost.
Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin called the awards ‘a celebration of the very best in film and television,’ adding that the group’s voters help guide audiences toward standout storytelling each year.