Owen Cooper’s big breakout as the young star of Netflix’s Adolescence has everyone talking about the talented 16-year-old. But the people he thanks most are his mom and dad, Noreen Cooper and Andy Cooper.
The couple from Warrington, England, United Kingdom, raised three boys, Connor Cooper Ollie Cooper, and Owen Cooper, in a regular working-class home and stood by Owen every step as he chased his acting dreams.
Credit : Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Owen Cooper’s Parents
Now, Owen’s mother, Noreen Cooper, works as a carer, looking after people who are sick or have disabilities. His father, Andy Cooper, has spent years working in IT. He started in the industry back in 2004 and now serves as a support analyst for an oil and gas company in Warrington.
Before that, Owen Cooper’s dad, Andy Cooper, went to Crown Woods School and studied Leisure and Tourism in college. Together, Noreen and Andy Cooper created a stable, loving home for their sons in a small industrial town near Liverpool and Manchester.
Owen Cooper Brothers
The Coopers have three boys: older sons Connor Cooper and Ollie Cooper, followed by Owen Cooper, who was born on December 5, 2009. Connor and Ollie both work as electricians, following more traditional career paths. Owen, a Sagittarius, was the one who went a different way.
Growing up, Owen played a lot of soccer and dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. The family lived across the street from a park, and Owen still connects the smell of fresh-cut grass (and even petrol) with happy memories of home.
Owen Cooper’s Parents Reaction to him Wanting to be an actor
Everything changed for Owen when he watched Tom Holland in the movie The Impossible. One ordinary day, he told his parents he wanted to try acting classes instead of just playing football. Noreen and Andy were surprised but got fully behind him. They signed him up for classes at The Drama Mob in Manchester, and that decision opened the door to his future.
Owen Cooper landed his breakthrough role as Jamie Miller in the hit 2025 Netflix miniseries Adolescence, sharing the screen with actors like Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty. His parents were right there with him during filming. At least one of them was always on set.
When his mom Noreen was recovering from surgery while filming was still ongoing, his dad Andy stepped up and stayed even more. Owen has said his dad would sit in the back with headphones on, quietly watching the scenes.
The whole family’s support paid off in a huge way. In September 2025, 15-year-old Owen became the youngest male actor ever to win an Emmy. He took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for Adolescence at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. He brought both Andy and Noreen with him to the big night.
In his acceptance speech, Owen gave a heartfelt shout-out to his parents and family: “A big thanks to my parents, to my mum, my dad, my family, the ones who love me, the ones who I love.”
He spoke about how he went from being “nothing about three years ago” to standing on that stage, encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone.
The proud parents joined Owen for photos with his award and had been by his side at earlier events too, including a special screening of Adolescence in London.
What Next for Owen Cooper
Now, with over 1.6 million followers on his Instagram and a major new role (Owen Cooper) as young Heathcliff in the upcoming 2026 Wuthering Heights film alongside Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, Owen keeps looking back to his roots.
His parents, Andy and Noreen Cooper, may come from everyday jobs in IT and caregiving, but their steady love and belief helped turn their youngest son’s surprise passion into worldwide success.
The Cooper family; Noreen, Andy, Connor, Ollie, and Owen, shows how a normal, close-knit home in Warrington can support big dreams. And, oh, for whatever it’s worth, Owen currently lives in the Orford suburb of Cheshire with his parents and two older brothers.
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