History was made at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards when a 16-year-old from Warrington stepped onto the Hollywood stage to claim a prize, becoming the youngest winner in the ceremony's entire history.
From Warrington Classrooms to Hollywood Glory
Owen Cooper, a complete newcomer to acting, secured the award for Best Supporting Male Actor – Television for his role in the British-produced Netflix limited series, Adolescence. The ceremony, held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on January 11, 2026, saw the teenager shatter a record that had stood since 2010, when Glee star Chris Colfer won the same accolade at age 20.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Cooper recounted his remarkable and unlikely journey. He revealed that he had never acted professionally before landing the breakout role. Pushing himself out of his comfort zone, he attended what he described as "embarrassing" acting classes where he was the only boy. His perseverance and gamble on himself paid off in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.
A Stiff Field of Competition and an Industry's Embrace
Cooper's victory was far from a foregone conclusion. He triumphed over a formidable list of established actors, including his Adolescence co-star Ashley Walters, Billy Crudup (The Morning Show), Jason Isaacs and Walton Goggins (both for The White Lotus), and Tramell Tillman (Severance).
As the enormity of the moment overwhelmed him mid-speech, the ballroom did not fall into silence. Instead, the industry audience erupted into supportive applause, rallying behind the fresh-faced Brit. His win also highlights the success of the show itself, with Adolescence earning multiple nominations, including for Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Best Television Limited Series.
Where This Historic Win Stands in the Record Books
While Owen Cooper is now the youngest winner in Golden Globes ceremony history, he becomes the second-youngest male winner overall. That particular record remains with Ricky Schroder, who won a Golden Globe at just nine years old back in 1980.
This landmark achievement for the Warrington teen signals the arrival of a major new British talent, whose career began with a self-confessed leap of faith and has now been cemented with one of the entertainment industry's most prestigious awards.
