The life-long neighbours of Adolescence star Owen Cooper have described him as a ‘pretty lad’ who would do something for them.
The 15-year-old is at present taking pictures a big-screen adaptation of Wuthering Heights alongside famous person Margot Robbie – after Adolescence turned the preferred present on Netflix.
However lower than a yr in the past Owen was simply one other unusual schoolboy kicking a soccer round with mates and enjoying PlayStation in his bed room, MailOnline can reveal.
His life till July 2024 was one which will likely be recognisable to most as a completely regular one in a provincial English city.
For Owen, that city was Warrington in Cheshire, the place his carer mum Noreen and IT employee dad Andy purchased a modest terraced home nearly 20 years in the past as the bottom the place they may elevate a household.
Christine Walker, 75, who has lived subsequent door to the younger star all his life, informed MailOnline: ‘I’ve recognized him since he was a child and to me he is only a common child.
‘I would see him play soccer along with his associates within the park proper exterior my home.
‘He is a large Liverpool fan and used to go to Anfield fairly a bit along with his dad Andy and his brothers.’
Owen Cooper pictured along with his mom and father at a screening of Adolescence
One other neighbour, 79-year-old Madeleine Rigby, additionally spoke of Owen’s childhood extraordinarily fondly.
She mentioned: ‘I bear in mind when he was born – it was on my birthday.
‘Owen is a beautiful younger lad. Actually well mannered and effectively mannered.
‘He would run errands for me prior to now. He and his household would do completely something for you in the event you requested.’
Mrs Walker added: ‘He was a extremely quiet and shy lad so I used to be stunned when he took up appearing however he is achieved so effectively. I am actually happy for him, he is labored and studied onerous for what he is acquired.
‘None of his household are within the enterprise and he isn’t considered one of these children who’ve been in stage college because the second they may converse.
‘He is solely been doing it for a number of years nevertheless it’s one thing that he’s actually eager on. His mum used to drive him to drama lessons each week.
‘I spoke to Owen over the weekend earlier than he left and he was telling me how a lot he loved working with Stephen Graham, who I additionally love.
‘When he’s again in Warrington, I see him on his bike so much biking to highschool. He has the appearing world at his ft in the intervening time.
Owen grew up within the Cheshire city of Warrington (pictured) the place locals know him as a ‘well mannered and effectively mannered’ boy
Owen Cooper is seen as Jamie Miller in Netflix’s Adolescence
‘It is surreal actually, I assumed I would see him on tv sooner or later – however as a footballer fairly than an actor.
‘However good luck to him – he is a beautiful lad from a beautiful down-to-earth household, who’ll definitely maintain him grounded when he will get actually well-known.’
Owen, born in early December 2009, was the child of the household nevertheless it’s understood he grew up near his older brothers, Ollie, now 20, and Connor, 30, who’ve each gone into careers as electricians.
Fb images taken by mum Noreen, 51, or Andy, 44, present Owen from his earliest childhood to his mid-teens, rising up in a loving and supporting household.
At one level, alluding to Owen’s trademark tousled brown hair, Noreen refers to her beloved youngest boy as ‘my mini Harry Types.’
Owen went to an area major college in Warrington the place he did effectively, notably in German – nevertheless it was at sport that he excelled with PE his favorite topic and, lengthy earlier than he ever considered getting concerned in appearing, Owen was a budding footballer.
He and his native associates would play soccer for hours at a time within the park proper exterior that terraced residence in a working class space of central Warrington, an industrial city halfway between Manchester and Liverpool.
Regardless of residing a stone’s throw from the Warrington Wolves’ rugby league floor, soccer was his ardour and he quickly joined native facet Warrington Rylands.
Owen Cooper is seen as Jamie Miller in Netflix’s Adolescence
A supply on the membership informed MailOnline: ‘Everybody right here is beside themselves with satisfaction for what he is achieved. He comes from an amazing household and everybody right here will assist maintain his ft on the bottom however he is such a sound lad that there will not be an issue.’
Was effectively as enjoying in Rylands’ Underneath-15s, the teenager harboured goals of enjoying for his household’s favorite workforce Liverpool.
Their rising star, England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, was his favorite participant however Owen himself appeared most frequently in midfield.
When not kicking a ball round, he can be enjoying video video games like Grand Theft Auto, FIFA and Purple Lifeless Redemption on his PlayStation.
HIs favorite treats, when allowed by Noreen, had been Maltesers and Skittles or a can of Irn Bru.
His favorite movies had been Titanic, Inception and the Marvel Spider-Man franchise.
But it surely was watching then little one actor Tom Holland within the 2012 movie The Not possible, which informed the story of a household caught up within the 2004 Tsunami and likewise starred Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, which proved a pivotal second in his life.
Seeing Holland’s intense efficiency impressed him to attempt to change into an actor himself.
This led him to enroll to appearing lessons at The Drama MOB, a drama college co-founded by former Coronation Avenue star Tina O’Brien and her pal Esther Morgan.
This was a brand new transfer for anybody from the Cooper household – as Owen later informed i-D journal: ‘I by no means actually wished to be an actor. It wasn’t actually in my DNA.’
Regardless of the novelty of his ambition, his mum Noreen may hardly have been extra supportive.
She would drive him to and from the drama college within the Manchester suburb of Didsbury each Tuesday night – a 45-mile, hour-long spherical journey from their residence.
And it was via drama college that he got here to audition for the function of Jamie Miller in Adolescence.
He was persuaded to ship in a video tape of him acting at The Drama MOB to producers.
Adolescence casting director Shaheen Baig had thought-about 500 boys for the half in all, however Owen’s demo tape shortly persuaded her that she had discovered her Jamie.
Graham too – who had conceived the thought for the drama himself – mentioned he knew right away that the younger actor in entrance of them was excellent for the starring function: he turned to the remainder of the workforce and mentioned ‘I feel that is him.’
Graham’s instincts had been confirmed appropriate as quickly as they started taking pictures.
Director Philip Barantini was amazed on the method Owen coped with the vastly demanding one-take nature of the present regardless of being aged simply 14 on the time of filming with no earlier skilled expertise.
Barantini informed Selection: ‘He simply completely blew me away. Actors prepare for years and years and nonetheless cannot actually grasp what Owen has mastered – which is principally simply being within the second and listening and being truthful.’
Capturing for the drama started final July at areas in Liverpool and Sheffield and lasted till October.
Owen appeared in intense scenes alongside established stars Stephen Graham as his onscreen father and Ashley Walters as a detective.
Owen informed Selection Journal in a current interview: ‘I used to be simply doing it [acting] for a interest and did not count on a lot from it.
‘After which when Adolescence got here, I clearly took it much more severely. And I simply took it on the chin actually, and simply did it.’
And though phrase of the ability of Owen’s efficiency had been an open secret in movie manufacturing circles for months, it was not till Adolescence was launched on Netflix on 13 March that he instantly discovered himself a star within the eyes of the general public too.
Cooper performs 13-year-old Jamie Miller who has been accused of stabbing to demise his feminine classmate.
The compelling storyline in Adolescence coupled with the truth that every of the 4 episodes is filmed in a single steady sequence to construct rigidity, has made it a smash hit with critics and viewers alike since premiering final week.
Owen’s debut appearing function has been so spectacular that he has been likened to Leonardo Di Caprio and Jodie Foster, who had been each little one stars after they made their first movies – respectively, This Boy’s Life and Taxi Driver.
Ms Morgan, director of The Drama MOB, mentioned Owen had attended lessons for 2 years earlier than securing the function in Adolescence, and revealed: ‘It was clear to the instructing workforce that Owen was a really gifted actor.’
His appearing trainer Alex Edge added: ‘Owen was a really gifted member of the category whose expertise shone via throughout his weekly classes at The Drama MOB.
‘He was all the time incredible at improvisation and appeared to assume very deeply concerning the character he was portraying. We’re all completely thrilled to see Owen on our screens and it was a privilege to show him’.
Again in Warrington Mrs Walker mentioned many regionally had been surprised at his success as Owen didn’t initially appear a pure candidate for an appearing profession.
She mentioned: ‘He was a extremely quiet and shy lad so I used to be stunned when he took up appearing however he is achieved so effectively. I am actually happy for him, he is labored and studied onerous for what he is acquired.
‘None of his household are within the enterprise and he isn’t considered one of these children who’ve been in stage college because the second they may converse.
‘He is solely been doing it for a number of years nevertheless it’s one thing that he’s actually eager on. His mum used to drive him to drama lessons each week.
‘I spoke to Owen over the weekend earlier than he left and he was telling me how a lot he loved working with Stephen Graham, who I additionally love.
‘When he’s again in Warrington, I see him on his bike so much biking to highschool. He has the appearing world at his ft in the intervening time.
‘It is surreal actually, I assumed I would see him on tv sooner or later – however as a footballer fairly than an actor.
‘However good luck to him – he is a beautiful lad from a beautiful down-to-earth household, who’ll definitely maintain him grounded when he will get actually well-known.’
Mrs Rigby added: ‘Owen even acquired me Stephen Graham’s autograph. I am thrilled on the success he is having as a result of he deserves it.’
Now he’s set for Hollywood glory by taking pictures a movie remake of Wuthering Heights, primarily based on the 1847 Emily Brontë novel, that includes because the younger Heathcliff.
The film is being labored on at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire with Saltburn star Jacob Elordi because the elder Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw.
Owen is known to have agreed time away from college for the shoot, and Noreen has accompanied him to London – they travelled down from Warrington final Sunday.
He additionally has been given a private tutor by producers at some point of the shoot to make sure he doesn’t get behind on his GSCE coursework.
