From Zendaya to Owen Cooper: Emmy’s Youngest Stars and Wins
- Owen Cooper, 15, is the youngest-ever Supporting Actor nominee for Adolescence.
- If he wins, he’ll surpass Scott Jacoby (16) as the youngest male acting winner.
- Zendaya remains the youngest Lead Drama Actress winner at 24.
- Millie Bobby Brown was nominated at 13 and 14 for Stranger Things.
- Keshia Knight Pulliam holds the record for youngest nominee ever at 6.
The Emmy Awards have long celebrated outstanding talent, and some stars achieve remarkable milestones before they can even drive. This year, 15-year-old Owen Cooper made history as the youngest nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a limited series for Adolescence.
He joins a prestigious group of young performers like Zendaya and Millie Bobby Brown, who have made a significant impact on television’s biggest night.
With the 2025 nominations generating excitement, let’s take a look at the young stars who have redefined success before they turned 20.
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At just 15, Owen Cooper isn’t just a nominee he’s a sensation. His gripping portrayal of Jamie Miller in Adolescence, a Netflix hit with over 540 million viewing hours, astounded critics and audiences.
If he wins, he’ll surpass Scott Jacoby, who was 16 when he won, becoming the youngest male acting winner in Emmy history a record that has stood since 1973.
“I wasn’t even aware in the moment,”
Cooper said about his improvised line “Look at me now!” during filming.
“It just popped in my head, and I thought it was powerful.”
His natural spontaneity impressed co-star Stephen Graham, who likened him to Robert De Niro.
The British government even supported the series for U.K. schools, demonstrating its cultural significance.
Zendaya: The Record-Breaking TrailblazerBefore Cooper, Zendaya was the youngest to win. At 24, she took home the award for Lead Drama Actress for Euphoria in 2020 a milestone she repeated in 2022.
“There is hope in the young people out there,” she shared in her emotional acceptance speech, dedicating the award to her peers.
Her two wins established her as a generational talent, making her only the second Black woman, alongside Viola Davis, to achieve this honor.
Long before Stranger Things became a cultural phenomenon, Millie Bobby Brown received her first Emmy nomination at 13 for her role as Eleven. Although she didn’t win, her consecutive nominations in 2017 and 2018 made her one of the youngest contenders ever.
Keshia Knight Pulliam: The Unbeaten Record HolderKeshia Knight Pulliam’s nomination for The Cosby Show at age 6 in 1986 has remained unmatched for almost 40 years. “No one has broken her record yet,” one article joked, challenging “any four-year-olds reading this” to try.
What’s Next for Young Emmy Hopefuls?With Cooper’s nomination, the industry is buzzing: Could he win?
“Producers called it a ‘stroke of genius’ to submit him as a supporting actor,”
insiders noted, enhancing his chances.
Meanwhile, Zendaya’s achievements show that youth doesn’t limit greatness. As Cooper himself stated,
“Simple things could stop someone from changing their life.”
His role and the discussions it has stirred might just change television forever.
Also Read: Connie Francis Husband And Only Child: Who Are They?
Last Updated on July 18, 2025 by 247 News Around The World
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