{"id":845356,"date":"2025-12-04T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=845356"},"modified":"2025-12-04T12:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T09:30:00","slug":"owen-cooper-adolescent-extremes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=845356","title":{"rendered":"Owen Cooper: Adolescent extremes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Owen Cooper \u2013 The Winter Issue 2025<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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\"Owen<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
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Gallery \/ 5 images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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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<\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

2025 has been Owen Cooper\u2019s year. In just a matter of months he went from being, in his own words, \u201ca normal kid from Warrington\u201d, to making history as the youngest ever male actor to win an Emmy award, for his starring turn in Netflix\u2019s <\/span>Adolescence<\/span><\/em>. Now, he\u2019s gearing up for the much-anticipated release of <\/span>Wuthering Heights<\/span><\/em>, in which he plays a young iteration of Heathcliff, under the direction of Academy award-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell, the controversial brains behind <\/span>Saltburn <\/span><\/em>and <\/span>Promising Young Woman<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s come straight from school, where he\u2019s preparing to take his GCSEs next summer. Today\u2019s timetable included geography, maths, German and English. \u201cA pretty bad day, lessons-wise,\u201d he says, knocking back a glass of squash. Like most teenagers, he \u201ccan\u2019t stand maths\u201d. Presumably, days with drama classes are not as bad. And there\u2019s one big silver lining: being able to spend more time with his friends again. \u201cThat\u2019s the only reason I go to school,\u201d he says, smirking.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The teenager was catapulted out of ordinary life and into the limelight back in March, following the release of Adolescence<\/em>. 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\u2019s murder, having been corrupted by extreme, misogynistic content on social media.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u201chit home hard\u201d, 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 \u201ccrazy\u201d, Cooper says. \u201cI don\u2019t think anyone expected it to blow up in the way that it did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cooper\u2019s performance in <\/span>Adolescence <\/span><\/em>earned him his record-breaking Emmy for outstanding supporting actor. But despite his already myriad accomplishments, it\u2019s 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 <\/span>Wuthering Heights<\/span><\/em>, and his dreams for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Owen<\/span><\/span>
Cotton T-shirt Telfar, wool trousers and leather boots Dolce & Gabbana, wool and cashmere scarf Ferragamo<\/span><\/span>Photography Justine Kurland, styling Zara Mirkin<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The past year must have been a whirlwind for you. How did you feel when you accepted the job on <\/strong>Adolescence<\/em><\/strong>? Did you know it would turn out to be as life-changing as it was?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>Not at all, no. I didn\u2019t really know what it was when I auditioned for it. I\u2019d never been on a film set before. I didn\u2019t 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\u2019t know if I wanted to be famous\u2026 but during filming I didn\u2019t really think about the Netflix side of it all. I just tried to focus on filming.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the show came out, I had no idea what to expect. I thought that people might watch it in the UK, but it\u2019s obviously resonated with people and travelled globally. But when we were on set I don\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show generated such a huge reaction \u2013 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?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>It was crazy \u2013 the fact that the show\u2019s getting that far is just\u2026 I mean, I think that\u2019s where it deserves to be. That\u2019s where the show aimed to be: in parliament, in places where changes happen. But it was quite mad to hear that [about Keir Starmer].\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Owen<\/span><\/span>
Wool blazer Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, cotton hoodie Telfar, denim jeans Givenchy by Sarah Burton, gloves stylist\u2019s own, leather boots Dolce & Gabbana<\/span><\/span>Photography Justine Kurland, styling Zara Mirkin<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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One of the big themes in <\/strong>Adolescence <\/em><\/strong>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?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>I\u2019ve had Snapchat and TikTok and Instagram since around year 7. I only use Snapchat for my mates; I don\u2019t add any randoms on it, especially not now. But obviously there are problems that kids are having with social media. I\u2019m lucky enough to not have had those sorts of problems. I have come across some dodgy videos \u2013 when Andrew Tate came about, he blew up, didn\u2019t he? But I don\u2019t know \u2013 I don\u2019t really see his videos on my Instagram or TikTok. I\u2019m lucky. I\u2019ve not really had many problems with it. I just ignore it. I scroll right past it. But obviously some people get sucked into it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>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, \u2018Oh no, this is my category.\u2019 I just had my head down, I was so nervous. Then when they said \u2018and the Emmy goes to\u2026\u2019, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Owen<\/span><\/span>
All clothes Bottega Veneta<\/span><\/span>Photography Justine Kurland, styling Zara Mirkin<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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What was it like going back to school after the win?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>My friends aren\u2019t really bothered. They messaged me saying \u2018well done\u2018, but they don\u2019t really care. The teachers cared, obviously \u2013 they were going mad about it. But my friends don\u2019t really look at stuff about me on the internet. And I\u2019m actually glad that they don\u2019t \u2013 when I was filming the show, I did think, \u2018What if everyone changes? What if all my friends change?\u2019 But I still get shouted at by the teachers in school. I still get the mick taken out of me. It\u2019s all good. I\u2019m glad they haven\u2019t changed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stephen Graham [a co-producer on the show who also plays Jamie\u2019s 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 <\/strong>Adolescence<\/em><\/strong>\u2019s biggest achievement. Do you think it\u2019s harder to break into the entertainment industry when you\u2019re not from London?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>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 \u2013 that\u2019s located in Manchester. They got me on <\/span>Adolescence<\/span><\/em>; I\u2019m 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 <\/span>Adolescence <\/span><\/em>in Leeds. We started filming <\/span>Wuthering Heights<\/span><\/em> in London but then moved up to Yorkshire. A lot of filming actually happens near me \u2013 near Manchester and Liverpool. The north isn\u2019t any different from London.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I still get shouted at by the teachers in school. I still get the mick taken out of me. It\u2019s all good. I\u2019m glad they haven\u2019t changed \u2013 Owen Cooper<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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What was filming Wuthering Heights<\/em> like?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>We started filming it in January. The set and the costume and make-up was so weird to me, because I\u2019d 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 <\/span>Adolescence<\/span><\/em>, and I hated that as well, never mind cutting all it off. They didn\u2019t 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, \u2018What\u2019s the haircut?\u2019 and Si\u00e2n [Miller], the hair and make-up designer, said, \u2018It\u2019s all getting cut off, everything.\u2019 I was like, \u2018Oh my God.\u2019 I hated it! But if it\u2019s for a role, I\u2019ll do it.<\/span><\/p>\n

How would you describe Heathcliff? Like Jamie, he\u2019s a complicated young man.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>He is complicated. He\u2019s in his own world, but he\u2019s lost as well. He comes from a rough background. I learned about his background a lot because, obviously, I\u2019m playing his background, in flashback. Jacob [Elordi] and I would talk about the character and he would help me with the lines and [we\u2019d practise] the accent. Jacob\u2019s accent is unbelievable. I remember him coming up to me and speaking in a fluent Yorkshire accent. I was like, \u2018What is going on? He\u2019s Australian!\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

What was it like working with him? And Margot Robbie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>They were lovely people. You\u2019d expect these massive A-list stars to be like, \u2018I don\u2019t want to speak to you.\u2019 But every single famous person that I\u2019ve met has been unreal. And Margot and Jacob are amazing at what they do. I can\u2019t wait to see the movie. I\u2019ve only watched around half an hour of it, but it is looking good.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Owen<\/span><\/span>
All clothes and leather boots Bottega Veneta, socks and gloves stylist\u2019s own<\/span><\/span>Photography Justine Kurland, styling Zara Mirkin<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Obviously, the film is based on the Emily Bront\u00eb novel \u2013 are you into books? Or are you more into films and TV?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>Definitely films and TV. I don\u2019t 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\u2019t even know what<\/span> Wuthering Heights<\/span><\/em> was before I started filming.<\/span><\/p>\n

What was the last thing you watched that you enjoyed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>Um\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Sorry, I\u2019ve put you on the spot there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>No, it\u2019s fine \u2013 it\u2019s just a lot of the stuff I watch is rated 18, and I\u2019m not allowed to say it\u2026 but I\u2019m gonna say it anyway [laughs]. That Ed Gein show [from Ryan Murphy\u2019s Netflix Monster <\/em>series] is unreal. It was mindblowing to watch. If Charlie Hunnam doesn\u2019t win an Emmy for that I\u2019ll be shouting about it. He\u2019s unbelievable. I\u2019ve also started watching <\/span>Stranger Things<\/span><\/em> again, because I need to watch it all again before the new season comes out. I\u2019m obsessed with <\/span>Stranger Things<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u2019d love to be Ghostface from Scream<\/em>. Or I\u2019d even\u00a0love to do\u00a0a Monster <\/em>series. I bet Ryan Murphy is good to work with \u2013 Owen Cooper<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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What was it like working with Emerald Fennell as a director?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>She\u2019s very good at keeping people on their toes \u2013 I think people are intrigued to see what she does with <\/span>Wuthering Heights<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you think audiences will react?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper: <\/strong>Hopefully they\u2019ll react in a positive way. I\u2019ve already seen a lot of bad things said about the film. But from what I\u2019ve seen of it, the set in particular is mindblowing. The landscape that is used in the film is just\u2026 it\u2019s like watching David Attenborough. The nature that Emerald uses is just unbelievable. But, yeah. I like my scenes. I\u2019ve watched the start and the ending too, which is one of the best endings I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Heathcliff is an iconic character. Are there any other famous characters from books or other films or TV series that you\u2019d like to play one day?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper:<\/strong> I\u2019d love to be Ghostface from <\/span>Scream<\/span><\/em>. I\u2019ve watched every single <\/span>Scream <\/span><\/em>movie. Or I\u2019d even love to do a <\/span>Monster <\/span><\/em>series. I bet Ryan Murphy is good to work with. And <\/span>Spider-Man<\/span><\/em>, I\u2019d love to do that \u2013 I\u2019ve wanted to do that since I was a kid.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I just crack on, really. School is good for normality. That\u2019s the only reason I go \u2013 Owen Cooper<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Have you been able to chill out and spend more time with your family and friends now you\u2019ve finished filming Wuthering Heights<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper:<\/strong> Yeah, definitely. I went to Portugal during the summer holidays. I\u2019ve been going out with my mates, playing padel and football, stuff like that. It\u2019s been a nice, chilled summer. I\u2019ve not been too busy recently. I\u2019ve just been back at school.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is that what you enjoy doing to feel a bit more normal \u2013 just spending time with your friends?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper:<\/strong> The teachers told my mum they could put me in different classes so I wouldn\u2019t get bothered. But I didn\u2019t really want that. I just wanted everything to go back to how it was. I just crack on, really. School is good for normality \u2013 that\u2019s the only reason I go.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for you? Where do you see yourself in five years?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owen Cooper:<\/strong> Five years! Hopefully working, because I\u2019m just bored to death not being on a film set. But I don\u2019t know. Five years\u2026 that\u2019s a long time. We\u2019ll have to wait and see. Hopefully I\u2019ll still be working with amazing people and doing exactly what I\u2019m doing right now.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s Loft, casting gk-ld.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

More on these topics:<\/span>Film & TV<\/a>The Winter 2025 Issue<\/a>Netflix<\/a>Television<\/a>Owen Cooper<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Source URL: https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/film-tv\/article\/69172\/1\/owen-cooper-adolescence-actor-wuthering-heights-video<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Owen Cooper \u2013 The Winter Issue 2025 Gallery \/ 5 images 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\u2019s year. In just a matter of months he went from being, in his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":845357,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[76],"class_list":["post-845356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=845356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845356\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/845357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=845356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=845356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=845356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}