Owen Cooper made Emmy history on Sunday night, taking home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his breakout performance in Netflix’s Adolescence. At just 15 years old, Cooper became the youngest male actor ever to win an Emmy.

He triumphed over a stacked field of nominees, including Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix), Rob Delaney (Dying for Sex on FX), Peter Sarsgaard (Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+), Bill Camp (also Presumed Innocent), and Ashley Walters, his fellow Adolescence cast member on Netflix.

Taking the stage, a visibly moved Cooper delivered a heartfelt speech:
“Standing up here is just so surreal. Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to even be in the United States, let alone here. But I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. I was nothing about three years ago. I’m here now.”

The young British actor, who captured audiences as Jamie Miller in Adolescence, has quickly become one of television’s most exciting new talents. Next up, Cooper will star as Callum in the BBC drama Film Club and portray Young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, alongside Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie.