Adolescence’s Owen Cooper Calls Historic Emmy Nomination ‘Just Crazy’: ‘It’s Not Even Sunk in Yet’ (Exclusive)

Owen Cooper is still processing his historic Emmy Awards nomination.

The actor, 15, spoke with PEOPLE at Televerse 25 on Aug. 16 about his recent Emmy nomination for his role on Adolescence — making him the youngest to achieve the accolade. He is going up against Ashley Walters (Adolescence), Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent), Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Peter Sarsgaard (Presumed Innocent) and Rob Delaney (Dying for Sex) in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category.

After being met with such a positive response in his breakout role, Cooper tells PEOPLE he’s thrilled and excited for all that’s to come in the future.

“it’s just crazy, really,” Cooper says. “And the youngest in my category is just … Do you know what? It’s not even sunk in yet, to be fair, but that’s just something else to think about.”

He continues, “It’s my first role — it’ll be the best role of my life. It was the best summer of my life to film, and I just can’t wait to be there on the night of the Emmys. I can’t wait.”

In Adolescence, Cooper portrays Jaime, a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a schoolmate. Since the show’s Netflix debut on March 13, the four-episode series has already won Gotham and IndieWire awards.

The show’s writer and co-creator Stephen Graham, who also stars in the series as Jaime’s father, tells PEOPLE he could pinpoint the moment he knew there was something special about Cooper.

“Owen looked at me at one point and I looked at him and I said to him, ‘From now on, I’m your dad and you are my son.’ And he just turned and looked at me and he just looked right at me and he went, ‘Okay,'” Graham shares with PEOPLE at Televerse 25. “And I just knew there was something there.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Later, after Cooper took part in an improvisation with director Philip Barantini and casting director Shaheen Baig, Graham was certain about the young actor: he told the others, “Wow, our kid’s unbelievable,” and the rest is history, Graham says.

Looking ahead, Cooper tells PEOPLE at the event he might be interested in a horror film, or one focused on World War II. His goal for himself is to work alongside “big, intelligent actors” and directors, he says.

“I think he’s going to be fine. I think you’re going to do just fine,” Baig said to Cooper, who added, “I just want to do this for the rest of my life, really.”

Adolescence is now streaming in full on Netflix.