wen Cooper poses with the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series award at the Primetime Emmy Awards(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
Owen Cooper’s former drama school, which has a look to Coronation Street as it was co-founded by one of its stars, has spoken out after his Emmy win.

The 15-year-old became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy for his performance in the Netflix drama, Adolescence, beating the previous record held by Scott Jacoby, who won an Emmy for That Certain Summer in 1973 aged 16.

Owen was just 14 years old when he filmed crime drama Adolescence and he made history when he scooped the Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series prize at the ceremony on Sunday night (September 14).

The Netflix series, which follows a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a teenage girl, was praised for its portrayal of violence against women and its impact on communities.

As he took to the stage at the star-studded event, it was clear that Warrington-born teenager was stunned by his success.

He said on stage at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre: “Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here.

“But I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. I was nothing about three years ago, and I’m here now.”

Now, Esther Morgan, co-director of The Drama MOB in Didsbury, which the youngster attended for two years prior to his Adolescence breakthrough, told the PA news agency: “In 12 years this is our biggest achievement, and we’re just so, so proud.

“We started our classes 12 years ago and we just wanted to give kids from the north a chance to perform, we wanted to give them the skills, we wanted to give them opportunities in the industry, and that’s always been our passion, really, providing that to those kids.

“To see him, a local northern boy, on the stage at the Emmys, it’s just mind-blowing.”

Owen collecting his Emmy at the 77th awards ceremony(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
Morgan, who works alongside the school’s owner, Corrie star Tina O’Brien, said she “had a feeling it might go his way” ahead of the awards ceremony, but said despite having raw talent, the group could have never predicted his success when he was starting out.

She added: “I knew he was fantastic, I mean, as soon as he came in, I remember watching him in class, and then when he came to join our agency, I remember thinking, ‘wow, he’s really, really natural, he’s really great’.

“He’s a really great kid as well, he’s a really lovely, lovely boy, I don’t think in a million years I imagined that he would be where he is now, I don’t think any of us did, but I knew there was something really, really special about him, absolutely.

“When this opportunity came up for Adolescence, I knew the first time he taped and then they came back for him, and they kept coming back for him and back for him, I knew they really liked him, and I just had this gut feeling that he could do this. I’m just so so proud of him and for his mum and his dad, and his family, it’s just so, so lovely.”

Ahead of the huge ceremony, the drama school commented on social media: “Tonight Owen takes to The Emmys red carpet in LA as a nominee for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, for his powerful performance as Jamie in Netflix’s Adolescence!

“His work has been praised around the world – and if he wins he’ll make history as the youngest ever male actor ever to do so!For us at Drama MOB, it feels truly special to have been part of Owen’s journey and to have trained an Emmy-nominated actor(!!).

“Watching him grow into the extraordinary performer he is today has been a privilege and we couldn’t be prouder of everything he’s achieved.”It just goes to show – when you start drama lessons with us, you never know where the journey might take you! Good luck Owen, we’re all rooting for you!!