‘Adolescence’ Star Owen Cooper’s Netflix Audition Tapes Will Make You Forget He Was a First-Time Actor | Video

As “Adolescence” continues to ride its initial wave of success, Netflix has shared a video featuring clips from star Owen Cooper’s original auditions for the show.

A lot has been praised about “Adolescence” in the days since it premiered March 13. Its writing — namely, its fearless approach to exploring modern, online incel culture — has prompted plenty of acclaim and discussion, as has its one-take directorial style, which allows its four episodes to play out in impressive, unbroken takes. Few things, however, have blown “Adolescence” viewers away quite as much as the central performance given by Cooper.

The actor, at just 15-years-old, is commanding, terrifying and chilling as Jamie, the young boy whose arrest for the murder of a girl the same age kicks off the Netflix series. The actor is asked to do a lot in “Adolescence” and he rises to meet its various challenges, despite his young age and his inexperience with screen acting. (“Adolescence,” in fact, marks his first film or TV credit.)

When you watch the actor’s “Adolescence” auditions, it is no mystery why he was cast as Jamie. Check out the video, which cuts between clips from the Netflix series and Cooper’s original screen tests, for yourself below.

Get a peek at Owen Cooper's audition tape for the role of Jamie in Adolescence. pic.twitter.com/Q3MjWEWHrk— Netflix (@netflix) March 24, 2025

In addition to garnering widespread praise from viewers and TV critics, Cooper has also been applauded and celebrated by his “Adolescence” co-stars. Speaking with Glamour UK, Erin Doherty reflected on her experience making the Netflix series’ intense third episode with Cooper, saying, “It felt like working with an actor who had been doing it for 50 years. Like, he’s just unreal. I would work with him for the rest of my days if I could. I felt so supported by him – as I hope he did by me.”

“Adolescence” co-creator and star Stephen Graham talked to Vanity Fair about casting the then-unknown young actor as well and revealed, “What I saw in Owen was the exact same thing I saw in Jodie Comer when Jodie was 17. I saw the same kind of ability, the same kind of natural talent, and just a real presence. He just blew my mind.”

Coming off his successful breakout debut in “Adolescence,” Cooper is next set to appear alongside Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in “Saltburn” director Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” adaptation and in “Film Club,” a BBC series starring and co-written by “White Lotus” Season 3 star Aimee Lou Wood.

You can watch Cooper’s audition in the video above.

“Adolescence” is streaming now on Netflix.

The post ‘Adolescence’ Star Owen Cooper’s Netflix Audition Tapes Will Make You Forget He Was a First-Time Actor | Video appeared first on TheWrap.