At the start of his professional journey, Stephen Graham discovered the importance of maintaining a sense of humor about himself. His spouse, actress and producer Hannah Walters, along with their two kids, ensure he stays grounded.
In those rare instances when I’ve found myself immersed in a role, Hannah swiftly brings me back to reality with her humbling perspective. Once, I shared with her that it had been an incredibly challenging day, having performed a heavy, emotional scene. She responded nonchalantly, “Well, let me tell you about my day.” She went on to describe waking up to the dog soiling the living room, dealing with a flat tire while grocery shopping, and having to manage unexpected early dismissal of the kids due to a flooded school. So, she asked me to recount my hard day again.
He shares the story with bouts of laughter. Graham, who is behind, in front of, and co-writes Netflix’s “Adolescence,” a show that carries a heavy weight this year. However, his tone doesn’t reflect this gravity. We share at least a dozen laughs during our conversation and find common ground in our affection for our families.
Walters and Graham are deeply inspired by their children, Grace (age 20) and Alfie (age 18). These youngsters serve as the heart of their creative endeavors.
He expresses his affection for them daily, as he shared, ‘I tell them every day how much I cherish them.’ Reflecting on a past occasion when his son was departing, he recalls giving him a customary cheek kiss. ‘His friend was present and appeared quite moved,’ he said, ‘Alfie was probably around 14 at the time. His friend commented, “My father has never done that to me. He’s never hugged me, never held me, never told me he loves me.” I recall being struck by this, and it’s a sentiment I wanted to emulate in raising Eddie.’
In this TV series, Graham plays Eddie, a working-class father from England whose 14-year-old son, skillfully portrayed by Owen Cooper, has been apprehended for the murder of his female schoolmate. The show consists of four episodes, each filmed in one continuous take, depicting various stages of the arrest and its subsequent impact.
Eddie deliberately avoided physical affection with his son, a choice made by the team. The first instance where he physically interacts with his son occurs after a thorough search. This scene, appearing 37 minutes into the first episode, was the only moment that prompted Graham to become emotional during our discussion.
During Jamie’s search by the police, the camera focuses on Graham’s expression. Jack Thorne intentionally scripted it this way, as the episode was intended to be a procedural. “He always says that my face can convey a thousand words,” shares Graham about his writing partner. “There were also complexities we had to consider with Jamie, given his age and situation, which we needed to handle sensitively. He stepped off-screen. So when I’m acting, I’m looking at the screen where Jamie is, and I’m listening to what he’s saying, but in my mind, I imagine Alfie.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I struggle to find the words as I reflect on the day my son joined me on set. “His presence,” I say, “granted me the strength to endure everything.
To clarify, Jamie’s family played a significant role throughout the whole ordeal. In the closing moments of the last episode, Eddie stepped into Jamie’s room for the initial time since the detention. After surveying the surroundings, he chose to lie in Jamie’s bed and wept uncontrollably.
On the last day, a splendidly sunny day it was, he declares it to be. This marks the closing chapter of summer camp for him, and as an actor, he feels incredibly grateful. The projects, the roles he’s played have been nothing short of marvelous. He holds immense affection for the team behind it all. Without them, he and his work would not be possible.
Contrary to the somber atmosphere portrayed in “Adolescence,” Graham found the entire experience to be nothing short of delightful. In fact, there was a tent specifically designed for the younger cast members to socialize, play cards, engage in football games, and simply enjoy each other’s company. This camaraderie made it all the more challenging when the show came to an end.
They completed an entire run of the final episode that turned out “exceptional”, and decided to attempt another one. “We thought, ‘Why not give it a try? This is an improvisational take. We’ve got it. It’s stunning. Let’s just see where this takes us.’
Something extraordinary transpired: “The interaction between me and Christine [Tremarco] upstairs was exceptional, unlike anything we’d experienced before. There was a distinctly unique vibe in the air, something you could feel. Amélie [Pease] really took charge when she entered and handled the situation flawlessly.
Next, Eddie moved towards Jamie’s bedroom, unaware that photographs of Philip Barantini’s family adorned the walls, accompanied by heartfelt messages from their children such as “We adore you, Dad” and “We’re incredibly proud of you.
Upon entering the room, he noticed the camera’s movement trajectory. He then glanced towards the closet and spotted his children there, quickly scanning the object in view, and pretending to survey the room casually,” he reminisces. “However, once inside, he found himself silently urging, ‘Don’t cry, don’t cry, Eddie won’t cry.’ Suddenly, a wave of emotion overcame him.
As a movie enthusiast, I must admit it’s not unusual for a limited series to make its debut and perform exceptionally well, only to be expanded into a multi-season drama. But when it comes to “Adolescence”, understating its success would be a grave injustice. This show has not just done well; it has dominated Netflix’s Top 10 charts in an astounding 93 countries where such rankings exist. Frankly, I never anticipated this level of global appeal.
Graham mentioned that the tale was meant to be a small, quintessentially British story from the beginning, and he believes that’s what made it so charming,” says Graham. “We didn’t anticipate its widespread impact, but we were sincere. I believe it succeeded because it was crafted with honesty, dignity, respect, and an abundance of affection. This authenticity seems to have carried it beyond its original scope.
The themes portrayed in the series were universally relatable, drawing inspiration from actual events. Over the years, Graham had encountered numerous instances of violence involving young British teenagers – such as one in Liverpool concerning three boys who attacked a girl with a knife, and another about a transgender girl who was tricked into a park and subsequently murdered. While filming, there was an occurrence where a young Black boy stabbed his girlfriend at a bus stop. Following the release of “Adolescence,” Graham acknowledged that some viewers thought it was influenced by the bus stop incident and viewed the narrative through a racial lens.
Certain individuals appear to twist the original narrative for their own purposes, focusing on racial aspects when in truth, that wasn’t the focus. The story revolved around an ordinary family going through a terrible ordeal. This young man, despite appearing normal, committed such a heinous act. The tale was one that resonated with people – it could have been your neighbor, your sister’s child, your friend’s sibling, or even your own son. It wasn’t about race at all; instead, it had a relatable essence.
It appears that Graham shared with me an unexpected piece of information: a rumor had gained significant popularity in England. Before elaborating, he emphasized the importance of careful word choice. “Perhaps some individuals who hold extreme right-wing beliefs…” he began, but trailed off. “In fact, someone went as far as to claim that we ‘miscast the race.’ They attributed this rumor to a specific incident at a bus stop. However, let’s examine the chronology.
Given that it has amassed more than 100 million views on Netflix, is there going to be another chapter in its story? Just under a month prior to our conversation, there were rumors circulating about potential negotiations for a second season between the streaming platform and the producers.
Graham points out that it’s still plausible,” he notes, “but he acknowledges that achieving such success rarely happens twice. He explains, ‘It’s a one-time event. We managed to capture the spirit of the times perfectly. It has become an international phenomenon! I mean, reaching No.1 in Brazil and Saudi Arabia?
If we were to revisit this story, would I be interested in telling it again, with an entirely new narrative? Absolutely,” he affirms. Instead, they might delve into a fresh family dynamic, perhaps that of Katie, the young girl who met a tragic end at Jamie’s hands. This concept hadn’t been explored before due to the specific format devised by Graham and Thorpe.
As a cinephile, I’d like to share a different perspective: “If this were a typical drama, you’d be observing the situation from Katie’s point of view, focusing on her family’s aftermath. But we’ve seen that storyline countless times. What I wanted to offer was something fresh – a glimpse into an unexplored aspect.
On this matter, it was clear: “I aimed to verify that Jamie didn’t grow up in a family where the mother was an alcoholic, or the father was violent, or he had been abused by one of his uncles. I don’t mean to offend, but these are typical elements seen in conventional dramas. I wanted to add some unexpected elements, explore other potential themes hidden within.
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2025-05-22 18:59