Adolescence viewers shocked after finding out about main actor’s past

Netflix drama Adolescence has left viewers floored by everything, from its poignant performances to technically impressive one-shot takes.

Many have found themselves rattling through all four episodes in no time, before hopping online to unpack anything they can about the show.

That incredible stand-off between Jamie (Owen Cooper) and his child psychologist Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty), for instance, featured a moment that was entirely unscripted.

“There was one moment in one take, which I never asked him to do, where he’s talking to Erin [Doherty] and the camera’s on him and he just starts yawning,” director Philip Barantini told Variety.

“Everyone behind the camera was going, ‘oh my god, he’s never done that before!’ Erin being Erin just said to him, ‘I’m sorry, am I boring you?’. And he had this cheeky smile on his face."

People were also stunned that each episode was filmed in a single, continuous take, not least because this meant there were often huge repercussions for any blunders.

Answering a number of fan questions on X, Netflix explained: "It depends on the size of the mistake – in some instances they carried on, but often takes were completely abandoned. No pressure!"

The series became an instant hit with viewers after landing last week (Netflix)

The streamer added: "It was initially planned that they would film each episode in full 10 times (once in the morning, once in the afternoon, across five days).

"But in reality a few attempts had to be abandoned and restarted, so some episodes had many more than 10 takes."

But while viewers were understandably impressed by the technicality that went into filming the drama, many were also left speechless by Cooper's performace - especially after people picked up on a crucial detail about his background... or lack thereof.

“I can't believe this is Owen Cooper's (Jamie) first role,” one posted on Reddit.

“He was phenomenal. Stephan Graham is an absolute genius. This was harrowing, upsetting and genuinely terrifying at times.”

Someone else agreed: “And he’s so young. I just checked to see if he’s a very young-looking adult, but nope. He was only 14 when they shot it. I don’t think I’ve seen a child performance this striking since maybe Saoirse Ronan in Atonement.”

Owen Cooper, who plays Jamie (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Graham, who also co-wrote the series alongside Jack Thorne, said it had been a very conscious decision to cast someone without a background in TV.

Speaking to ITV, he explained: “One of the things I'm exceptionally proud of with this production is the fact that we found Owen.

“We didn't want a young lad who had been through theatre school or drama school. Owen's a normal kid from a council estate and he's working with Margot Robbie now, yah know what I mean.”