Adolescence has taken over the internet since it was released on Netflix on March 13. Out of all of the stars in the unforgettable series, people can’t stop talking about Stephen Graham.
Stephen, 51, serves as the co-creator, co-writer, and co-executive producer of the show, while also playing dad Eddie Miller.
Much like Eddie loves and supports his son as much as he can before the terrifying revelation of Jamie’s crime, Stephen has taken many other young actors under his wing to help them out and build their careers.
Jamie is played by Owen Cooper, who was only 14 when the show was filmed and hadn’t done any professional acting before.
Speaking of Stephen, the teen shared that the seasoned pro “was always checking in” on him throughout filming to make sure that he was okay, and even helped him access the deep emotions needed for the role.
Owen divulged that he struggled with a certain scene, and Stephen bucked him up to get the intensity he needed. “Before then I’d been frustrated because I hadn’t been getting emotional. But after that point I was emotional in every take. So that helped me a lot. He was amazing to work with,” he shared to Variety.
The breakout star now has a Hollywood role in upcoming 2026 film Wuthering Heights, which also features huge names such as Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Owen revealed that his on-screen dad was vital in helping him get the role. “Stephen recommended me his agent. So Maddi came and watched a bit of episode one, and I got Wuthering Heights from that!” he explained.
Stephen shares two children with his wife Hannah Walters, and it seems that he’s always had a paternal streak for the young performers around him.
While he now has an OBE, back in 2006 he became a household name for his iconic work as Andrew ‘Combo’ Gascoigne in This is England.
Thomas Turgoose was only 13 when he filmed the hit movie, and tragically shared that his mum died from lung cancer when filming ended – before she even got the chance to watch it – and that Stephen offered to adopt the young actor.
Speaking to Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing and Francis Boulle on the podcast Private Parts, Thomas shared: “When my mum died I moved in with my dad and I didn’t know him, so Shane Meadows and Steven Graham were going to adopt me if things didn’t work out with my dad.”
Jodie Comer is another huge star who’s gushed over her experiences with Stephen. The Killing Eve femme fatale revealed that – much like with Owen – he linked her up with her agent when she was starting out.
In 2021, ahead of co-starring with Stephen in the Channel 4 film Help, she described: “I met Stephen for the first time ten years ago. Stephen very kindly introduced me to his agent who then became my agent. He made that introduction out of pure kindness in order to help me get more opportunities.”
During a BBC Radio 6 discussion with Lauren Laverne, Jodie shared that Stephen even encouraged her not to take elocution lessons after she worried that her Liverpudlian accent might set her back.
“He’s so true to himself and it was so good to have someone exactly like him, who is from where I’m from, and celebrates how they are in an industry where there are probably less working class actors. To have someone like him is amazing,” Jodie praised.
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