Adolescence star Owen Cooper, 16, is taking his mock GCSE exams abroad... between the Critics Choice awards, Golden Globes and filming in Europe
Adolescence star Owen Cooper is taking his mock GCSE exams abroad while filming on location as he prepares for this Sunday's A-list Golden Globes, the Daily Mail can reveal.The teen star, who turned 16 in December, has been shortlisted for the Best Supporting Actor in a Series category for his role in the hit Netflix drama.He is set to join Hollywood royalty, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Dwayne Johnson and Jennifer Lawrence, at the star-studded event, to be held at The Beverly Hilton, but only once he has completed his exams this week while working on location in Europe.Sources close to the Warrington-born actor say he will sit the exams at the same time as his classmates, having spent the past few months revising.Year 11 students at his school, which we are not naming, are due to sit their RE, Biology and English Literature exams this week. The insider said: 'Owen is working in Europe this week, but that won't stop him from doing what all his classmates will be going through.'He's taken his mock exams remotely under controlled conditions, with a moderator, as agreed with licensing and his school.'The insider added: 'Owen takes his schoolwork as seriously as his job; he wants to get good grades. Owen Cooper, who turned 16 in December, has been shortlisted for the Best Supporting Actor in a Series category for his role in the hit Netflix drama He picked up a gong for Best Supporting Actor in a limited series for Adolescence, the psychological crime drama in which he plays a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a classmate'Obviously, his acting career is looking particularly promising, but that won't stop him working hard in school.'Cooper flew out to Europe this week, having attended the Critics' Choice awards last Sunday in LA.He picked up a gong for Best Supporting Actor in a limited series for Adolescence, the psychological crime drama in which he plays a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a classmate.During his heartwarming speech, Owen thanked his co-stars, collaborators, and family, saying: 'The past year has been a complete whirlwind for me and my family.'Honestly, it's changed our lives forever and we're forever grateful.'Receiving this award means more to me than I can put even into words, to be standing here with you all tonight is something that I'll never forget.'His co-stars Stephen Graham, 52, and Erin Doherty, 33, respectively won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress in a limited series.Owen mingled with the A-listers at the ceremony, posing up with actors Michael B. Jordan, Timothée Chalamet, and Adam Sandler - who he referred to as 'my man' - in his Instagram Stories.Owen picked up an Emmy award in September for his role in Adolescence, making history by becoming the youngest ever winner.And during an appearance on the Graham Norton Show shortly afterwards, he admitted it was 'weird' on his first day back at school following his victory.He added: 'I've still got my GCSEs to do.'I've only got about six months left, and then I am gone – and then hopefully I am going to be an actor.'Owen says his school pals have helped keep him grounded when the likes of Margot Robbie have been heaping praise on his acting talents.He told Access Hollywood: 'My friends aren't really bothered.'They messaged me saying "well done", but they don't really care. The teachers cared, obviously – they were going mad about it.'He continued: 'But my friends don't really look at stuff about me on the internet. And I'm actually glad that they don't – when I was filming the show, I did think, "What if everyone changes? What if all my friends change?"'But I still get shouted at by the teachers in school. I still get the mick taken out of me. It's all good. I'm glad they haven't changed.'Following the success of Adolescence, Owen has become a hot property in Hollywood and has nabbed several new film roles.He plays a young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, and Tom Ford's forthcoming movie Cry to Heaven, set in 18th-century Italy's opera world.Owen - who has two older brothers, Ollie, 20, and Connor, 30 - previously said he dreamed of being a pro footballer when he was younger rather than treading the boards.He told the Liverpool ECHO: '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.'It was watching Tom Holland in the 2012 film The Impossible, which told the story of a family caught up in the 2004 Tsunami and also starred Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, which proved a pivotal moment in Owen's life.Seeing a young Tom's intense performance inspired him to try to become an actor himself.This led him to sign up for acting classes at The Drama MOB, a drama school co-founded by former Coronation Street star Tina O'Brien and her friend Esther Morgan. Owen picked up an Emmy award in September for his role in Adolescence, making history by becoming the youngest ever winnerOwen later told i-D magazine: 'I never really wanted to be an actor. It wasn't really in my DNA.'And it was through drama school that he came to audition for the role of Jamie Miller in Adolescence.He was persuaded to send in a videotape of himself performing at The Drama MOB to producers.Adolescence casting director Shaheen Baig had considered 500 boys for the part, but Owen's demo tape quickly persuaded her that she had found her Jamie.Stephen said he knew straight away that the young actor in front of them was perfect for the starring role. He turned to the rest of the team and said: 'I think that's him.'Brand and culture expert Nick Ede has predicted Owen could follow in Timothée Chalamet's footsteps and become 'the toast of Hollywood'.He told the Daily Mail: 'The phenomenal success of Adolescence has taken the TV world by storm, and critics have been raving about Owen's stand-out performance.'The Hollywood elite love a rags-to-riches story and, at 15 and his first ever role, this young actor who was brought up in humble surroundings could soon become Hollywood's hottest property and follow the path of many other child stars who have become household names, like Millie Bobby Brown or Timothee Chalamet.'I'm sure writers will already be presenting his agents with scripts and synopses that will feature him.'As he's so young, I am sure he will be looked after and not thrust into the limelight without any support.'Being a star in the UK is very different from being an international phenomenon. I am sure the offers will be rolling in from feature films to brand deals and beyond.'He will probably feel a lot of pressure, but also feel a massive sense of achievement from where he has come from to where he is now.'
