NETFLIX mega-hit Adolescence has captivated audiences since it dropped on March 13, 2025.
Exploring the harrowing story of a 13-year-old incel accused of murdering his classmate, the show features a stellar cast showcasing established actors and fresh faces.
Owen Cooper
Owen Cooper, 15, makes his acting debut in Adolescence as Jamie Miller, the show’s protagonist.
Adolescence focuses on the aftermath of a tragic crime as Jamie is arrested for the brutal murder of an an older female classmate.
Exploring themes of the incel subculture and online bullying, Jamie delivers a powerful performance, which is only made more impressive by the fact it’s his first role.
Off the back of it he has already landed his next big gig — alongside Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, Owen will star in Emerald Fennel’s remake of Wuthering Heights, which is based on the 1847 novel by Emily Brontë.
Asked by Variety how much acting he’d done before Adolescence, Owen replied: “Literally nothing. I only really wanted to start acting a couple of years ago. It’s not been long.
“I grew up wanting to be a footballer. I don’t know what it was that made me want to do it, but I just wanted to do it.
“And then I went to lessons and enjoyed it. And then I got into a little agency thing, and then I got a self-tape request for Adolescence. And everything came from that really.
Stephen Graham
Stephen Graham, who also co-created the series, plays Jamie’s father, Eddie Miller.
He said he was compelled to make the show after hearing about two instances of boys stabbing girls to death.
Stephen explained: “I just thought, what’s going on in society where this kind of thing is becoming a regular occurrence?
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Stephen Graham and Ashley Walters’ acclaimed drama Adolescence smashes huge Netflix record by DOUBLE after taking world by storm” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6370183265112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“I just couldn’t fathom it. So I wanted to really have a look and try and shine a light on this particular thing.”
Graham is a prolific actor who’s appeared in everything from gritty British drama to Hollywood blockbusters, including:
- A Thousand Blows (2024)
- The Venom franchise (2021-24)
- Boiling Point (2021)
- Peaky Blinders (2022)
- Boardwalk Empire (2010-14)
- Line of Duty (2019)
- The Irishman (2009)
- This Is England (2006)
- Snatch (2000)
Ashley Walters
Ashley Walters stars as DI Luke Bascombe, the lead detective in the murder investigation in the hit crime drama.
Before the role in Adolescence was offered to him, he was considering leaving the industry.
He told Radio Times: “It was intense. It was intense … I came into this job personally thinking that I was going to quit acting.
“So before I was like, ‘I’ve had enough.’ And obviously I’ve started directing and I was like, ‘I want to pursue that a bit more, slow down the acting a bit, and eventually phase it out’.
“And Stephen [Graham,] called me and was like, ‘No, you got to come and do this job’.”
Ashley is known for:
- Missing You (2025)
- Top Boy (2011-2023)
- Bulletproof (2018-21)
- Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2005)
- Bullet Boy (2004)
- His music career with So Solid Crew
Erin Doherty
Erin Doherty takes on the role of Briony Ariston, the clinical psychologist assigned to Jamie’s case.
She also previously starred alongside Stephen Graham in period drama A Thousand Blows.
Erin said that they had to rehearse each episode for longer than they actually filmed it to get the one-shot take right — a method of filming where there are no cuts, so everything you see is recorded in one go — a specialty of the show’s director Phil Barantini.
She told the Standard: “We rehearsed for two weeks, getting our choreography down. And then for the last week, we shot it twice a day.
“We’d come in the morning, shoot it once, have lunch, shoot it again, and then you’re done for the day — because it was that mentally draining that we genuinely couldn’t do anything more.”
Erin has featured in:
- A Thousand Blows (2024)
- Reawakening (2024)
- Firebrand (2023)
- Chloe (2022)
- Intelligent Design (2020)
- The Crown (2019-20)
- Les Misérables (2018).
Faye Marsay
Faye Marsay portrays DS Misha Frank — DI Bascombe’s partner in investigating the murder.
She came to prominence for her role in Channel 4 comedy Fresh Meat.
Her previous roles include:
- Game of Thrones (2015-2016)
- The White Queen (2013)
- Black Mirror (2016)
- Pride (2014)
- Fresh Meat (2013)
Mark Stanley
Mark Stanley features as Paul Barlow, Jamie’s solicitor.
You might recognise him as Gren from Game of Thrones, or as DCI Thom Youngblood in ITV‘s Trigger point.
Mark’s previous work includes:
- Trigger Point (2022-2024)
- Anne Boleyn (2021)
- Sanditon (2019)
- Euphoria (2017)
- Game of Thrones (2011-2014)
Christine Tremarco
Christine Tremarco portrays Manda Miller, Jamie’s mother.
She joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2024.
Announcing the news, Christine said: I am thrilled to be joining Emmerdale!
“To be working with such a wonderful cast and crew along with the brilliant writing and production team is an absolute joy!
“Rose is so much fun to play. She is free-spirited, boisterous and totally mischievous with a steely edge and a big heart.”
Chrisitne has featured in a great many TV staples including:
- Emmerdale (2024-present)
- Wolfe (2021)
- Waterloo Road (2007-2009)
- Casualty (2010-2013)
- Little Boy Blue (2017)
- Face (1997)
- Under the Skin (1997)