It was a career-defining night for Stephen Graham at the Emmys on Sunday, as the acclaimed British actor took home the award for Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series for his gripping performance in Netflix’s Adolescence.
The series, which Graham co-created with Jack Thorne, dominated the limited series categories with a total of eight wins, including best limited series, writing, and acting honors for stars Owen Cooper (supporting actor) and Erin Doherty (supporting actress).
For Graham, the lead actor prize marked not only his first Emmy win but also one of the most personal moments of his career. Taking the stage, Graham reflected on his journey and what the recognition meant to him.
“This kind of thing doesn’t normally happen to a kid like me. I’m just a mixed-race kid from a block of flats in a place called Kirkby,” said Graham, who had a Swedish grandmother and a Jamaican grandfather on his biological father’s side. “To be here today in front of my peers, and to be acknowledged by you, is the utmost humbling thing I could imagine in my life, and it shows you that any dream is possible.”
His portrayal of Eddie Miller, a working-class father navigating fractured family ties, earned Graham critical acclaim and cemented Adolescence as one of the standout limited series of the year. He and Thorne also shared the Emmy for Best Writing in a Limited Series.
During the ceremony, Graham spoke passionately about the inclusive spirit of the production.
“Whether or not you are an executive producer from Plan B or you were the fellow that was cleaning the toilets in our Winnebagos, we were all equal,” he said. “Just look after each other and give your mate a cuddle or a kiss and tell them you love them.”
Graham thanked his father, recalling how trips to the video shop as a child ignited his love for storytelling, and paid tribute to his wife: “I know that without you I would be dead. So from the bottom of my heart, I love you with everything I have.”
