Netflix's new one-take crime drama Adolescence has viewers hooked. The gripping show tells a story of of a 13-year-old boy accused of murder. But while famous faces like Ashley Walters and Stephen Graham are sure to be familiar, it's 15-year-old newcomer Owen Cooper who's really captivated everyone's attention.

Cooper, who makes his acting debut in the series, stars as Jamie Miller, a troubled teen at the centre of a harrowing murder case. Despite this being Cooper's very first on-screen role, his electric performance has received much praise.

Adolescence follows Jamie as he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his schoolmate, Katie. It's a dark and intense narrative, exploring toxic masculinity, bullying, and the radicalisation of young minds through incel culture.

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Violence against women and girls (VAWG) has become an increasingly alarming epidemic in the UK, with over 3,000 offenses recorded daily. A has estimated that at least one in every 12 women will fall victim to VAWG each year. Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Vodafone revealed that 69% of 11-14-year-old boys in the UK have been exposed to misogynistic content online.

With the rise of incel culture, Adolescence takes on a deeply relevant and pressing societal issue. Despite the difficult nature of his role, Owen Cooper's portrayal has already sparked important conversations, shining a light on the key issues the manosphere is facing in our modern day. Here the looks at the 15-year-old's remarkable rise to stardom in a show that's got everyone talking.

While many young actors have years of training behind them, Owen's debut couldn't be more different. The 15-year-old had no formal acting experience before landing his role as Jamie. His success has happened in the blink of an eye and in a unconventional way.

Stephen Graham, who co-writes the show and plays Owen's dad, has labelling him a once in a generation talent. In an interview with , Graham said: "We did not want a lad who had been through theatre school or drama school. Owen is a normal kid from a council estate, he's working with Margot Robbie now, he's playing Heathcliffe, he's smashing it."

On casting Owen, he also told : "We wanted someone who didn't have a lot of experience, but we knew that what we were doing and what we were trying to ask this young person to do was cosmic in many ways. It's a huge undertaking, but we cast Owen, who had no experience, he'd done a couple of little theatre workshops, and he was just starting to do little bits in school."

Owen lives in Warrington with his mother Noreen, who is a carer, and his dad Andy who works in IT. Before landing the huge gig, he had only attended a local drama club but discovered his love of acting at school in Year 7 during drama lessons.

The teen is a passionate Liverpool FC fan and plays for his school football team. He has two older brothers - Ollie, 20, and Connor, 30. Speaking to the Owen joked: "Both of my brothers are electricians and my mum's a carer. My dad works in IT. So, I've no clue where [the acting] comes from." Graham described Cooper's family as "just wonderful, beautiful people".

"I only really wanted to start acting a couple of years ago," he told . "I grew up wanting to be a footballer. I don't know what it was that made me want to do it, but I just wanted to do it."

Despite being at the start of his career, his portrayal of Jamie has impressed critics and fans alike. Director Philip Barantini, who worked with Owen on the show, was equally impressed. "He just absolutely blew me away," Barantini said. "Actors train for years and years and still can't really master what Owen has mastered, which is basically just being in the moment and listening and being truthful."

His breakthrough role in Adolescence has already opened doors to some incredible opportunities. The young actor is set to star in Wuthering Heights, the upcoming film adaptation of the classic novel by Emily Brontë. Owen will play the young Heathcliff, alongside Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi in the role of the adult Heathcliff.

Owen told how he started acting at a local group, The Drama MOB, founded by actress Tina O'Brien, working hard for two years before landing his first on-screen role. He said: "I sent this tape off, not expecting anything back, and then a month later I got a recall in . It's a whirlwind, to be honest."

Owen has said that watching himself in the show has been "" but equally as "amazing". Speaking to the Radio Times, he said: "Everyone's been saying such nice things [about his performance], I don't know what it is, but I don't really watch it like I'm watching a normal show. I just watch it because I'm in it. So I don't know. But everyone who has spoken to me has said it's amazing. So yeah, I've heard positive things."

The fact that Adolescence was filmed in one continuous take for each episode only adds to the strength of Owen's performance and talent. Filmed in a unique, immersive style, each episode is shot in a single, uninterrupted sequence. This means Cooper's portrayal of Jamie had to be flawless, without the luxury of multiple takes. He couldn't forget his lines or restart over - something many actors even with years of experience would struggle with. Luckily, Owen stayed calm and didn't crumble under the pressure. It's safe to say Owen Cooper is a name that won't be forgotten any time soon.

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