Meet Owen Cooper: The Talented Young Actor Making Waves as Jamie in "Adolescence," Now Starring Alongside Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie
New Netflix show Adolescence Since its launch earlier this month, it has garnered widespread acclaim. Boasting a perfect 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the single-take crime thriller is divided into four parts and revolves around a couple whose lives fall apart after their teen son is accused of murdering a classmate at his school.
Some recognizable actors are featured in the cast lineup. Boiling Point Stephen Graham — who portrays Eddie Miller, the father of the 13-year-old boy — to The Crown 's Erin Doherty plays the role of psychologist Briony Ariston. However, the cast includes several newcomers as well, with one standout being the lead actor Owen Cooper, who is rapidly gaining international fame.
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This is what we understand about Owen Cooper, the actor portraying Jamie Miller as the lead character in the series.
What can you tell me about Owen Cooper's history?
Cooper, who is 15 years old, hails from Northern England—a detail that resonated with his portrayal of a character on the series since filming took place in Yorkshire. He explained to the Liverpool Echo, “What appealed to me most about the storyline was that it’s rooted in the north and tells a distinctly northern tale, which mirrored my own background.” Additionally, Cooper mentioned that Owen has two older brothers or sisters, making him the youngest among three siblings.
During the interview, he confessed that he has no idea about the origin of his acting abilities. He stated, “My two brothers work as electricians, my mom is a caregiver, and my father is in IT. Therefore, I have absolutely no concept of where this talent came from.”
He's new to acting - truly so.
It might be difficult to accept, considering his innate talents, but Adolescence Cooper's debut as an actor came relatively recently. He revealed to Variety, "I genuinely developed an interest in acting merely a few years back." He continued, "My journey hasn’t spanned for too long. As a child, my aspiration was to become a soccer player. The reason behind this shift remained unclear to me, yet the desire persisted strongly."
He mentioned that he ultimately attended the classes and had a great time. Following his involvement with an agency known as The Drama Mob, he received a self-tape audition request. Adolescence "I mailed off the tape without any expectations of getting something back. Then, about a month later, I received an invitation to audition in Manchester. Honestly, it all happened so quickly," he shared with The Mail on Sunday.
He has been receiving significant acclaim for his first acting performance.
Since Adolescence Aired, critics have continuously praised the young performer's acting abilities. He shared with Variety, "People have been saying very positive things." His agent has also witnessed this acclaim [ Adolescence And she mentioned that it was really good."
Not only his agent and the critics have been highly complimentary; even the director was deeply impressed with his performance. “What he achieved left me astounded. Many actors spend decades training but struggle to achieve what Owen has effortlessly accomplished—being present, attentive, and genuine,” said Philip Barantini, the film’s director, to Variety.
He will be starring in "Wuthering Heights," appearing alongside Margot Robbie.
Cooper's forthcoming project is also significant as he will portray a young version of Heathcliff, played by Jacob Elordi in Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel. Wuthering Heights . Margot Robbie will also appear in the star-filled production set for release in February 2026.
He supports Liverpool FC.
Cooper, who aspired to be a football player, is a supporter of Liverpool FC, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. He mentioned that he differs significantly from his character in the show. Adolescence "I don't consider Jamie athletic in any way; actually, it’s just the opposite with me. I'm part of the school's football team and also participate externally," he stated.