Ashley Walters has expressed gratitude after receiving a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role in Netflix’s gripping four-part crime drama Adolescence, placing him alongside co-star Owen Cooper. The groundbreaking series has been honoured with 13 Emmy nominations, including standout recognition in both its ensemble and technical categories. Adolescence star Owen Cooper, at just 15, has become the youngest nominee ever in his Emmy category, earning acclaim for his portrayal of schoolboy Jamie Miler, at the centre of the drama. The show also earned nominations for lead acting (Stephen Graham), supporting actress (Erin Doherty, Christine Tremarco), directing, writing, and a wave of technical honours, including casting, cinematography, costume design, and sound.

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The nomination marks a major career milestone for Walters, whose portrayal of Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe earned critical praise. When informed of the honour, Walters shared that he was “over the moon”, describing the moment as “surreal.” He expressed deep gratitude for the role and the recognition, calling the nomination a testament to perseverance, adding: “it’s for everyone who stood by me through the highs and the lows”. Walters’s performance in Adolescence is widely acknowledged as one of his toughest and most nuanced roles to date. Walters further expressed his gratitude in his Instagram story, saying: "If you told the young boy from Peckham all those years ago he would be nominated for an Emmy Award he would have laughed you out of the room. How you start life doesn't define you, what you do with that life does. Thank you".

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The series, directed by Philip Barantini and co-written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, is shot in one continuous take per episode and explores complex themes such as incel culture and teenage alienation. Walters confessed that the intense production demands made the experience “the most difficult acting experience he had ever had". Remarkably, Adolescence also broke streaming records, becoming the second-most viewed English-language Netflix drama and reaching 96.7 million views in its first three weeks. The series topped UK charts and prompted early discussions of a second season.

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The highly competitive Emmy awards see Adolescence up against highly successful productions like Severance (27 nominations), The Penguin (24), and The White Lotus (23). Ashley Walters’s nomination, alongside the show’s historic achievements, underscores its impressive artistic and cultural impact. The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on September 14, 2025, hosted by Nate Bargatze on CBS.