Owen Cooper's "You'll Never Walk Alone" Acceptance Speech Decoded

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Owen Cooper gave a sly shoutout to his favorite soccer team at the Golden Globes.

The English actor, 16, made history by becoming the youngest person to win best supporting actor in a television series at the Jan. 11 ceremony for his performance in Adolescence, and he finished his acceptance speech by saying, "You'll never walk alone." (See all the winners here.)

While he certainly delivered a stirring message, Owen was also referencing the iconic anthem of Liverpool Football Club, which he is a known fan of. 

His love for Liverpool runs so deep that Adolescence director Phil Barantini actually let Owen sneak an Easter egg about it into the series.

"Do you know the table in episode three?" Owen said during an appearance at the team's Anfield stadium last May. "So, Phil gave a pencil to all the crew, and we could all draw something or write something."

"And I wrote 'LFC > MUFC,'" he added, referencing Liverpool's rival Manchester United Football Club, "and it stayed in! Phil kept it in."

Elsewhere in Owen's acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, he expressed his gratitude for the wild ride he's been on ever since skyrocketing to fame.

"Standing here at the Golden Globes does not feel real whatsoever," he said. "What an incredible journey me and my family have been put through."

Kevork Djansezian/CBS via Getty Images

"What started off as what I thought I might be OK at," Owen went on, "I might be awful at, I took a risk and I went to drama classes, I was the only boy there, it was embarrassing but I got through it."

The Wuthering Heights star added that he's eager to continue learning from those around him.

"But I'm still very much an apprentice," he shared, "I'm still learning every day, I'm still every day learning from the people sat in front of me who have inspired me."

"I wouldn't be here without you guys," Owen added. "This is mad, what is going on?"

The teenager ended his speech with his Liverpool shoutout and, "Bring on 2026."

Keep reading for more moments from inside the 2026 Golden Globes...

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Owen Cooper

Is there any star in Hollywood who has not been excited to meet the Adolescence newcomer, a winner for Best Supporting Male Actor in a TV Series? 

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Teyana was just a tad more popular than Ariana at the 2026 Golden Globes, toppling the Wicked: For Good star in the Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture category with her fierce performance in One Battle After Another.

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Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet

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Jacob Elordi, Ana de Armas

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Julia Roberts, George Clooney

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Miles Caton, Kevin Hart, Seth Rogen, Michael B. Jordan

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Orlando Bloom

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts

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Rei Ami, Audrey Nuna, EJAE, Marlon Wayans

Marlon shared a golden moment with Kpop Demon Hunters' star voice artists.

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Kristen Bell, Jon M. Chu

"Yes, yes I will star in your next musical," Kristen must have told the Wicked: For Good director, right?

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Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco, Martin Short, Steve Martin

It was only besties at the table when Steve captured this Kodak moment with his Only Murders in the Building costars (and Selena's husband Benny).

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Patrick Schwarzenegger, Parker Posey

No lorazepam was needed for this White Lotus reunion.

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Jennifer Lawrence, Kylie Jenner

Sometimes, when your partner is in the bathroom or maybe winning an award, your family's biggest fan drops by to say hello.

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Eva Victor, Jessie Buckley

The Sorry, Baby director-star kvelled over the Hamnet actress before Jessie won for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama.

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Noah Wyle, Sara Wells

After adding a Best Actor in a Drama Series Golden Globe to his current trophy haul, the star of The Pitt still can't believe he's been the recipient of so much good fortune for being a better doctor than Clooney.

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Teyana Taylor

Teyana was feeling sweet, sweet emotion after her surprise win for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

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Justin Hartley, Sterling K. Brown

Justin must have been tracking Sterling's healing progress, four months after his This Is Us costar appeared at the Emmys nursing a leg injury.

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Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez

Just a couple of goddesses wishing each other well.

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