Rising star Owen Cooper has made awards history after becoming the youngest individual winner ever at the Actor Awards — formerly known as the SAG Awards — overtaking a record long held by Kate Winslet.
The 16-year-old claimed the prize for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series for his chilling performance in Adolescence.
Until now, the record belonged to Winslet, who was 20 years old when she won her first Actor Award in 1996 for her portrayal of Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, directed by Ang Lee.
A Crown Passed — and a New Record Set
Cooper’s win rewrote the ceremony’s history books, as he surpassed a category that included heavyweight contenders — among them Stephen Graham, who portrayed his character’s father in Adolescence and also co-created the series alongside Jack Thorne.
Cooper plays a 13-year-old schoolboy who murders a female classmate, a role widely praised for its intensity and emotional depth.
The young actor was unable to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles, and the reason behind his absence was not formally explained on the night. In his place, presenter Damson Idris accepted the award, joking:
“I’ll be taking this home, thank you.”
Why He Wasn’t There
Cooper is currently filming Cry to Heaven, the next directorial project from fashion designer-turned-filmmaker Tom Ford, according to IMDb.
Based on Anne Rice’s 1982 novel, the film follows a castrated nobleman in 18th-century Italy who becomes an opera soprano. The production boasts a star-studded cast including Adele, Aaron Taylor‑Johnson, Nicolas Hoult, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Thandiwe Newton, Paul Bettany, Ciarán Hinds, Hunter Schafer, and Lux Pascal.
Production is currently underway in Italy and the UK, which would explain Cooper’s absence from Sunday night’s awards.
Interestingly, Winslet herself was also unable to attend the Actor Awards when she won in 1996, as she was filming Hamlet at the time.
An Unstoppable Awards Run
Cooper’s Actor Awards triumph continues a remarkable awards-season streak for Adolescence, which he filmed when he was just 14.
Last September, aged 15, he became the youngest male actor ever to win a Primetime Emmy, taking home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology.
Speaking backstage at the time, Cooper said the honor:
“Means so much to me… to my family and to people back home,” according to E! News.
In January, while studying for his GCSEs, he also became the youngest-ever recipient of the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor on Television — making him the second-youngest Golden Globe winner in history, behind Ricky Schroder, who won at age nine in 1980.
‘I Took a Risk’
In his Golden Globe acceptance speech, Cooper reflected on the unlikely beginnings of his acting journey.
“What started off as something I thought I might be okay at — or might be awful at — I took a risk and went to drama classes,” he said.
“I was the only boy there. It was embarrassing, but I got through it.”
He added:
“I’m still very much an apprentice. I’m still learning every day from the people in front of me who have inspired me. I wouldn’t be here without you. This is mad. What is going on?”
A Landmark Night for the Actor Awards
The 2026 ceremony delivered multiple surprises beyond Cooper’s historic win.
Michael B. Jordan shocked the room by beating Timothée Chalamet for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, while his film Sinners also took home Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
Jordan was visibly emotional as he accepted the award, later thanking his mother for driving him to auditions when money was tight.
Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley triumphed in the Female Actor in a Leading Role category for Hamnet, beating a competitive field including Kate Hudson and Emma Stone.
A Star Still Rising
For Owen Cooper, the latest accolade cements his status as one of the most extraordinary young talents of his generation — a teenager already rewriting awards history while balancing schoolwork and major international film sets.
As awards season continues, one thing is clear: this record-breaking moment may only be the beginning.
