Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 14, 2025 · Entertainment

Owen Cooper Meets Idol Jake Gyllenhaal: A Teen Actor's Heartwarming Emmy Surprise

Adolescence star Owen Cooper was surprised by his acting idol Jake Gyllenhaal ahead of the Emmys on Sunday - as the star gifted him a good luck token

Teen Heartthrob Owen Cooper Prepares for Emmy Win, But Will He Be Back to School by Wednesday?

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards are just around the corner, and all eyes are on 15-year-old rising star Owen Cooper, who's nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series category. If he takes home the coveted award, Owen will make history as the youngest male winner of a primetime Emmy, shattering the previous record by 257 days.

But what's even more intriguing is that Owen's big break has come just a year after he was an unknown entity. In this exclusive article, we'll delve into the fascinating world of Owen Cooper, who's gone from being a school kid to a Hollywood sensation in a matter of months.

A Lucky Duck and a Special Gift

Before we dive into Owen's whirlwind journey, let's take a look at what happened when he was surprised by his acting idol, Jake Gyllenhaal. The clip shared on thescholarlynote.com shows Owen's reaction as he meets Jake, who presents him with a small gold duck figure - a "Lucky Duck" that's said to bring good fortune.

"I made this movie and I got nominated for an Academy Award," Jake explains, as Owen looks starstruck. "A friend of mine sent me this before something just like this." Jake hands over the gift, saying it's meant to give Owen "a bit of luck."

Netflix shared a clip of him being surprised by Love & Other Drugs star Jake, 44, as he was left speechless by the visit

Owen's eyes light up as he takes in the gesture, and we can almost hear his heart skip a beat. It's clear that meeting his idol has left him speechless, but in a good way!

From Warrington to Hollywood

As Owen prepares for the big night, he'll be making a quick turnaround from the red carpet to school by Wednesday. Teachers at his Warrington secondary school have given him a week off to attend the Emmys, and while that might seem like a dream come true, it also means he'll be back studying for next summer's GCSE exams just 48 hours later.

As he walks in Owen puts his hands over his mouth and shouts 'Oh my God!' as the pair hug before posing for snaps together

But don't worry; Owen won't be sacrificing his education entirely. He's been open about the challenges of balancing school and fame, saying in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he has a bag of homework with him in LA and can't wait to get back to studying maths (his least favorite subject).

When asked if he thinks about algebra while sitting at the Emmys, Owen quips, "That's what I think about every morning before I go to school. Because I want to pass, I don't want to fail..."

A School Kid in Tinseltown

Jake says: 'It's so nice to meet you. I have a present for you. I made this movie and I got nominated for an Academy Award and a friend of mine sent me this before, something like this'

It seems like a lifetime ago that Owen Cooper was just another student at Warrington Secondary School. But now, he's rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-listers and attending pre-Emmy parties in style.

Alongside his parents, Noreen (a carer) and Andy (an IT professional), Owen has been the talk of Tinseltown over the past few days. The trio was spotted at a swanky party on Friday night, where Owen said he felt like "he'd never forget this for the rest of my life."

Expert Predictions: Will He Take Home the Trophy?

Sharing the moment on his Instagram Owen penned: 'Honour and a privilege to meet an icon of the game like Jake and will never forget it @jakegyllenhaal'

With nearly 98% of predictions pointing to an Owen Cooper win, it's clear that experts across the showbiz world think he's a shoo-in. Gold Derby's panel of experts has dubbed his victory "one of the locks of the night," with over 2,600 people predicting his win.

As for what's next if Owen takes home the trophy, we can only imagine how thrilled his family and friends will be! With an Emmy on the shelf, he'll have a National Television Award to add to it - one that he couldn't collect in person when he won last week.

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards: All the Major Nominations

Owen is pictured as Jamie Miller with Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston in Adolescence episode three

Here are some of the biggest contenders for tonight's awards:

Best Drama Series

  • Andor
  • The Diplomat
  • The Last of Us
  • Paradise
  • The Pitt
  • Severance
  • Slow Horses
  • The White Lotus

Teenage actor Owen will make Emmys history tonight, experts predict - before jumping on a plane so he's back in school on Wednesday (seen on Jimmy Kimmel on Friday)

Best Limited or Anthology Series

  • Adolescence
  • Black Mirror
  • Dying For Sex
  • Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
  • The Penguin

And that's just the tip of the iceberg! With nominations pouring in from all categories, tonight promises to be a night to remember.

Will Owen Cooper make history by taking home the Best Supporting Actor award? Stay tuned to find out!

Get Ready for the Big Night Ahead

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards kick off at 5 pm local time (1 am UK time) tonight. With stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, and Cate Blanchett attending, it's going to be a night filled with glamour, excitement, and maybe even some surprises.

We can't wait to see what the future holds for Owen Cooper - will he take home that Emmy trophy?