Stephen Graham gets emotional during Emmys speech: “This doesn’t normally happen to a mixed-race kid from Kirkby”

Stephen Graham got emotional as he accepted an Emmy award for his work on Adolescence.

• READ MORE: ‘Adolescence’ review: Stephen Graham’s terrifying warning about toxic masculinity

The star won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award during last night’s (September 14) ceremony, one of many wins for himself and the Netflix show.

Taking to the stage, Graham – who has Jamaican and Swedish heritage – said: “This kind of thing doesn’t normally happen to a kid like me. I’m just a mixed-race kid from a block of flats in a place called Kirkby.

“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 my life, and it shows you that any dream is possible.”

Graham went on to thank his friends and family, as well as his colleagues on Adolescence, before sharing: “I wanna take it to my dad for bringing me to the video shop when I was a kid and starting my education in film.”

The star concluded his speech by thanking his wife Hannah Walters, declaring emotionally: “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.”

The actor won the award for his portrayal of Eddie Miller in Adolescence, with co-stars Erin Doherty and Owen Cooper also scoring acting wins. The latter’s victory made history as the youngest male acting winner in Emmys history at age 15.

“Standing up here is just, wow, it’s just so surreal,” Cooper said in his speech. “Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple of years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here.

“So I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. I was nothing about three years ago, I’m here now.”

Graham won two further awards during the ceremony – Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie with Jack Thorne, and Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, shared with various others.

Other big Emmy winners on the night included The Pitt and The Studio, which respectively won Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series.

Elsewhere, Stephen Colbert quoted Prince as he accepted an Emmy following his late night talk show’s cancellation.

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