Netflix’s Adolescence star Owen Cooper calls the hit show his “worst nightmare” and reveals why he refuses to watch his powerful performance.

Starring in one of Netflix’s most talked-about teen dramas should be a flex, right? Not for Adolescence breakout actor Owen Cooper. According to the child star, although his gritty British series blew up on the streaming platform after focusing on emoji decoding, toxic boy culture, and uncomfortable truths, Cooper called it his “worst nightmare.”

It seems that while audiences are binge-watching the show like it’s the next Euphoria meets Black Mirror, Cooper is hiding from his own performance like it’s a cringey old TikTok. Turns out, seeing his own face on screen is more terrifying than the show’s darkest plot twist.

Owen Cooper has refrained from watching him onscreen

Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence | image: Netflix

While most rising stars dream of turning into an overnight sensation, Owen Cooper is out here giving major ‘I wish this was fiction’ energy—following his appearance in the hit Netflix drama Adolescence. Although he seems proud of his success, Cooper told THR how the thought of watching himself on screen is less ‘cool actor moment’ and more nightmare fuel.

Let’s be real—most of us cringe after watching our old Instagram Stories, so imagine being the lead in a Netflix show seen by millions. Turns out, watching his own face act out such heavy scenes isn’t his vibe at all. Additionally, things got even messier when Cooper found out the show might be screened in actual schools.

I still haven’t watched it either. I just don’t like watching myself. And now Jack says it’s going into schools… that’s my worst nightmare!

I’m not watching it in my own school, no chance. I’d watch episode one, maybe two and four — but not three. 

While fans are praising his performance and schools are using the series to educate teens, Owen Cooper seems to be dodging the spotlight. He’s certainly proud of the message and happy about the show’s success, but watching himself on screen? That’s a hard pass. So, calling it his “worst nightmare”, Cooper implied getting the ick from his own footage.

Owen Cooper reflected on the truth behind Adolescence

Mark Stanley, Stephen Graham, and Owen Cooper star in Adolescence (2025) | Image: Netflix

Further, reflecting on the storyline of his popular Netflix show, Owen Cooper opened up about how the real events shown in Adolescence felt—even to him. Addressing the sneaky emoji codes and twisted online behavior shown in the series, the actor claimed to be unaware of this sort of dark corner of the internet.

Meanwhile, although the British drama seemed like just another edgy show about teens, Owen Cooper clarified that this stuff is actually happening. From secret online chats to peer pressure spirals, as the show tapped into real problems young boys are facing today, Cooper admitted how the reality hit him hard.

I was glad I didn’t have any idea of what was going on — the emojis and the meanings behind them. I had no clue. And I don’t think my friends knew, but it’s obviously happening across the country. It’s not a made-up story.

Just like that, Netflix’s Adolescence went from being a mere teen drama to being more like a documentary with a chill-inducing twist. And now that the show is making headlines for the possibility of getting screened in schools across the UK, it’s not just sparking binge-watch sessions, it’s starting conversations.

Adolescence is available on Netflix.