In a moving acceptance speech, actor Stephen Graham described himself as “just a mixed-race kid from Kirkby” upon receiving an Emmy Award for his leading role in the critically acclaimed Netflix drama *Adolescence*.
The 52-year-old, who hails from the Merseyside town, reflected on his journey, stating, “This kind of thing doesn’t happen to a kid like me.”
In *Adolescence*, Graham portrayed Eddie Miller, the father of a teenage boy implicated in the death of a female schoolmate.
Acknowledged as outstanding lead actor, Graham also extended heartfelt gratitude to his children and his wife, Hannah Walters, whom he lauded as his “rock” and “soulmate.”
The series garnered six awards at the ceremony, including outstanding supporting actor, claimed by Owen Cooper. At 15, Cooper’s win marked him as the youngest male actor to ever receive an Emmy for his breakout performance in *Adolescence*.
Graham has a mixed-race background, with Jamaican heritage on his father’s side.
During a 2019 appearance on BBC’s Desert Island Discs, he shared that growing up, he felt “slightly unsure where I fitted in.” He also recounted how his stepfather, who is also mixed race, helped him connect with his cultural heritage.
He credited his stepfather, affectionately called “Pops,” for nurturing his passion for acting, recalling regular trips to the Quarry Green video shop in Kirkby, which he described as the genesis of his love for film.
After honing his skills at the Everyman Youth Theatre in Liverpool, Graham achieved widespread recognition for his role in Shane Meadows’ 2006 film *This Is England*, subsequently building a successful career in both film and television on both sides of the Atlantic.
Graham has also spoken candidly about his past struggles with suicidal thoughts and how the support of his family, friends, and love helped him realize that “life was worth living.”
In his Emmy Awards acceptance speech, delivered in Los Angeles on Sunday, he stated, “This kind of thing doesn’t happen to a kid like me. I’m just a mixed race kid from a block of flats in a place called Kirkby.”
He continued, “So for me, to be here today, in front of my peers and to be acknowledged by you is the utmost humbling thing I could ever imagine in my life and it shows you that any dream is possible.”
“There’s too many people to thank but I am going to thank my friends and family. Without you, none of this is possible.”
“Thank you for helping me with something that I can’t do on my own.
“Jack, everyone, Phil, everyone. I want to bring it to my dad for taking me to the video shop when I was a kid and kick-starting my education in film – Quarry Green video shop.
“My kids Grace and Alfie and my adorable wife, who I love with every ounce of my being – you are my rock, you are my world, you are my soulmate and you know and I know, without you, I would be dead.
“So from the bottom of my heart I love you with everything I have. Namaste everyone, thanks very much.”
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