Stephen Graham reveals the 'ultimate' goal of 'Adolescence'
'When me and Jack (co-creator, Jack Thorne) started talking about this and writing and creating it, we wanted there to be conversations between parents and children,' he told The Post exclusively at the Gotham Television Awards on Monday, June 2. 'That was our ultimate thing.
'We wanted to try and see if we could create that conversation that needs to happen.'
8 Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence.'
Courtesy of Netflix
It's safe to say that the creative duo fulfilled their wish.
The show, which premiered in March, has reached nearly 150 million views worldwide.
It centers around a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper) who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. The series takes a pointed look at the role social media has in shaping young male teens and their views of women.
London's Lord Mayor, Sadiq Khan, recently praised the show for highlighting the 'epidemic of violence against women and girls' in the United Kingdom.
The 'Peaky Blinders' alum, 51, doesn't lay all the blame on the internet and social media.
8 (L to R) Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence.'
Courtesy of Netflix
8 'We wanted to try and see if we could create that conversation that needs to happen,' he told The Post.
Courtesy of Netflix
8 He used real-life crimes in Great Britain over the recent years as the inspiration behind the show.
Courtesy of Netflix
'I think it's something that we all maybe need to take accountability for,' he opined. 'I mean, you know, from the schooling, parenting, social kind of environment that our kids grow up in, and now I think these big social media companies themselves have a responsibility.'
Graham was quick to clarify that 'I'm not saying police it' but rather 'I'm just saying [they] have a responsibility to be mindful.'
The show won big at the Gotham Awards, winning for Breakthrough Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series and Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series.
8 'Adolescence' centers around a teen boy named Jamie Miller ( Owen Cooper) who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school.
Courtesy of Netflix
8 (L to R) Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller, in 'Adolescence.'
Courtesy of Netflix
Graham recently opened up that while 'Adolescents' is fictional, he used real-life crimes in Great Britain over the recent years as the inspiration behind the show.
'I read an article in the newspaper, which was about a young boy who had stabbed a young girl to death. And … I was stunned by what I was reading,' he said in March, per NPR.
'And then, about three or four months later, there was a story on the news … about a young boy who had stabbed a young girl to death, and this incident was the opposite end to the country to the first incident that I'd read about,' Graham continued.
8 'Adolescence' is available to stream on Netflix.
Courtesy of Netflix
8 (L/R) British actors Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty attend Netflix's 'Adolescence.'
AFP via Getty Images
He initially blamed the parents; however, he admitted that he later realized he needed to dig deeper.
'Adolescence is a very difficult age, as we all know. You go through a lot of different things, physically, mentally, and even spiritually in the greater scheme of things,' the actor shared. 'My main question was why: Why is this happening?'
Graham continued, 'There's a wonderful saying, which is, it takes a village to raise a child. And within that kind of complexity … it's kind of like, maybe we're all accountable.
'When a child closed the door back in the day when it was me and you, we didn't have access to the rest of the world [via the internet], and we couldn't be influenced dramatically by other people and their theories and their thought processes. So that was what we really wanted to look at.'
'Adolescence' is available to stream on Netflix.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
28 minutes ago
- New York Post
Comedian Zakir Khan headlines MSG: Where to buy tickets
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. Zakir Khan is about to make comedy history. On Sunday, Aug. 17, the Indore native will become the first stand-up to headline a show in Hindi at New York City's Madison Square Garden. 'Comedy is deeply rooted in context, and much of that context doesn't translate well across languages,' the 37-year-old funnyman explained to The Post in an exclusive interview. 'Since I'm sharing stories from my childhood and personal experiences, it's most authentic for me to express them in my native language, Hindi.' Advertisement The Big Apple night is just one small part of the gifted storyteller's mammoth ongoing North American arena tour. Following the MSG gig, he has 12 more shows lined up in the U.S. and Canada including a pair at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, Aug. 24. And, yes, he has some tricks up his sleeve. 'It's a guest-heavy tour featuring legends and friends who will be supporting me at the shows at Madison Square Garden and Scotiabank Arena,' Khan teased. 'It's a surprise worth keeping a secret till the time I bring them on stage. It is one of the biggest nights of my life and I want to celebrate stand up comedy with my audience and make it as memorable as possible for them.' If you've exhausted Khan's five Amazon Prime specials and are craving something new, tickets are still available for all upcoming shows on the run from August through October. Advertisement Just be prepared for the adventure of a lifetime. 'It's an emotion-filled rollercoaster ride, one that leaves everyone in splits but also leaves everyone with some food for thought,' he noted. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Zakir Khan's 2025 North American stand-up comedy tour below. Zakir Khan tickets 2025 A complete calendar including all Zakir Khan tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below. Advertisement Zakir Khan comedy specials If you'd like to brush up on Khan's material before seeing him IRL, we recommend seeking out his five stand up specials on Amazon Prime Video. 'Each of them takes you on a different journey,' Khan shared with us. '[You] can watch any of them, I'd prefer you watch all of them.' To go on that journey, you can find all five Zakir Kahn comedy specials here: Advertisement 'Haq Se Single' (2017) can be streamed on Amazon Prime 'Kaksha Gyarvi' (2018) can be streamed on Amazon Prime 'Tathastu' (2022) can be streamed on Amazon Prime 'Mannpasand' (2023) can be streamed on Amazon Prime 'Delulu Express' (2025) can be streamed on Amazon Prime Zakir Khan interview Ahead of the show, we asked Khan a handful of questions about the MSG show and performing on the road. Below, you'll find a lightly edited version of our chat. What does performing at Madison Square Garden mean to you? Honestly, I wasn't sure how I'd get here—but I always imagined that I would. I've explored so many forms of expression over the years: music, radio, theater. Comedy ended up being the path that carried me forward, but I've always felt drawn to the stage in some form. What's your favorite story from the road? One particularly memorable experience was when I was scheduled to perform at the Beacon Theatre in New York. My flight from Chicago to New York was cancelled at the last minute, and because it was St. Patrick's Day weekend, almost every other flight was fully booked. I ended up taking a 5:30 AM connecting flight from Chicago to Detroit, then from Detroit to Washington, and finally drove all the way to New York. I got stuck in traffic at the New York–New Jersey tunnel and reached the venue just seven minutes before I was supposed to go on stage. It was a chaotic journey, but one I'll never forget. Will you be doing new material at this show? Each time I go back to a city, it's always a new show. This one too is a new show and very close to my heart. This is the 4th special I'm bringing to the USA and each time I come here, I end up wanting to perform a newer show immediately. Advertisement Is there any joke you're particularly excited to perform in the States and Canada? Nothing in particular honestly. I have stories that are four to five hours long, and depending on the room and audience, I get into the rhythm of my art form and try to take everyone on a journey with me. Is this your first time performing in NYC? If not, where have you gone up? I have performed multiple times in NYC before. We started with a dream when we were touring through the U.S. for the first time back in 2018, which eventually led to a goal for us- which was performing at The Garden. In New York, we started with The Town Hall, then Beacon Theatre, after that was The Theatre at MSG and now we're due to perform at The Arena. It was strategically planned and we made our way through these to ensure we're doing it the right way. Advertisement What's next for you? That's a great question. In fact, my team and I have been thinking about what to do after announcing shows like these. Once we announced our sold-out show at The Royal Albert Hall in London, we knew Madison Square Garden was the next sensible step. But what does one do after performing at The World's Most Famous Arena? I'm yet to comprehend. I may start doing shows that are more intimate, I may take a break. For now, I'm only imagining what me and the thousands of others with me are going to feel like on 17th of August. Who are some of your favorite comics working in the US these days? There are so many, but the ones I look up to the most are John Mulaney, Taylor Tomlinson, Nate Bargatze, Hannah Gadsby, Dave Chappelle, Ronny Chieng, Russell Peters and Hasan Minhaj. Hindi comedians on tour in 2025 Advertisement If Khan isn't headed to your neck of the woods in the near future, you need not worry. Many iconic Indian comedians will be out and about these next few months. Here are just five of our favorites you won't want to miss live. • Hasan Minhaj • Zarna Garg Advertisement • Russell Peters • Usama Siddiquee • Hari Kondabalu Plus, you won't want to miss A.R. Rahman at Newark's Prudential Center on Aug. 16. Who else is on the road? Take a look at our list of all the biggest comedians on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
New York Post
28 minutes ago
- New York Post
Capris have new legion of fans, thanks to Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner — but some still hate the trend
Capri pants — those truncated trousers last seen on Carrie Bradshaw during the original run of 'Sex and the City' — are back. The favorites of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn have acquired a new legion of fans, who prize them for their easy summer vibes. Celebrities Kendall Jenner, Anne Hathaway and Emily Ratajkowski have all stepped out in calf-length leggings recently, and Hailey Bieber was spotted in a polka-dotted pair. Nearly every brand offers its version of the style, from Gap to Reformation to Jacquemus, whose stretchy capris retail for $790. 14 Julie Matos, 48, owns three pairs of capris — and swears by them. Emmy Park for 14 Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn often favored capris. Bettmann Archive 14 Hailey Bieber wears attention-grabbing polka-dot capris during a visit to New York recently. GC Images Those trending now harken back to the streamlined midcentury styles — sleek, black and often in stretchier materials. But the pants have their haters, mainly millennials who lived through capris' last heyday in the early 2000s — when they were basically shortened versions of the era's low-rise pants, often with tacky embellishments like sparkly embroidery or cargo pockets. 'I hate [capri] leggings with the fury of 1,001 suns!' 'They look wonderful on Audrey Hepburn … but I hate the idea of them on myself with the fury of a thousand suns,' Elisa Mala, a millennial travel writer who lives in Staten Island and did not want to give her age, recently told The Post. 'And I hate [capri] leggings with the fury of 1,001 suns!' she added. Becca Lyn, a 42-year-old registered nurse who lives in Chelsea, told The Post: 'When I look at pictures of myself in capris from when they [were] in fashion, I have only deep regret.' 'I find it very upsetting,' said Megan Reynolds, an editor at Dwell and author of the new book 'Like: A History of the World's Most Hated and Misunderstood Word.' 14 Kendall Jenner strolls through Paris wearing capris in June. BACKGRID 14 Angela Betancourt, 43, brought a pink pair of capris out from her closet recently. Joe Buglewicz for NY Post 14 Betancourt was thrilled to discover they still fit. Joe Buglewicz for NY Post 'At my age, which is 42, the fact that they're coming back makes me feel old,' she told The Post. 'I also never thought they were flattering on anybody.' Even men have strong opinions. 'The capri pant flatters almost no one,' said Robert Ossant, fashion historian and co-author of the forthcoming 'The Art of Couture Embroidery.' 'It's the sartorial equivalent of breakup-bangs,' he added, questioning the claim that they were 'back' at all. 'Brands like to push the opposite of whatever is trending — in this case, wide leg pants — to make consumers switch their entire wardrobe up,' he said. 'I will add, supermodels in the south of France pull it off, and that's the main reason capri pants still hold some appeal.' Sometimes called pedal pushers, toreador pants or clam diggers, capris emerged in the 1940s. A German designer named Sonja de Lennart claimed she invented the style, but while she may have given capris their name, Daniel James Cole, an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and co-author of the book 'The History of Modern Fashion,' told The Post that they were in the ether. Celebrities such as Katharine Hepburn and Amelia Earhart helped push the idea of women in pants in the 1930s. But during World War II, American women ditched their dresses en masse, suiting up in jeans or coveralls to work in the factories while the men fought in Europe. Capris, Cole said, were a response to the postwar hyper-feminine styles of Christian Dior — a way for gals to still don trousers without appearing too threatening to the men returning from the front. 'They were sometimes without the slits [at the bottom]. They were sometimes with some sort of detail down towards the hem of them. But it was an overarching trend coming into the '50s,' Cole said. 14 Marilyn Monroe poses in capris for a portrait inside her LA dressing room. Getty Images 14 Mary Tyler Moore shows off fashionable capris as she films a scene with Dick Van Dyke in his eponymous sitcom in 1961. CBS via Getty Images 14 Emily Ratajkowski rocks capri pants and a black décolletage jacket in New York City. Christopher Peterson / And they exploded when Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly adopted them. Hepburn made the pants her signature, donning them in her Oscar-winning turn as a rebellious princess in 1953's 'Roman Holiday' and again as a beatnik bookseller-turned-model in 1957's 'Funny Face.' In 1961, Mary Tyler Moore subverted the role of the subservient TV housewife when she appeared on 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' in a knit turtleneck, ballet flats and black capris — topped off with her insouciant flipped hairdo. 'They were a symbol of youth,' Cole said, and younger cultures would resuscitate them throughout the decades, from post-punkers like the B-52s in the 1980s to pop stars like Britney Spears in the late 1990s. It was that youthful mien that led 23-year-old fashion student Emma Bennett to recently purchase a pair of black and white polka-dotted pedal pushers from web retailer Cider. 'I was definitely going for a '60s vibe when I got them,' the Parsons student told The Post, adding that she was inspired by Elle Fanning's bohemian ensembles in the 2024 Bob Dylan biopic 'A Complete Unknown.' 14 Fashion student Emma Bennett bought a pair of black and white polka-dotted capris to get a ''60s vibe,' she told The Post. Emmy Park for 'Something with that movie really captivated me,' she said. 'I thought about it for weeks and weeks after watching it. I thought getting more clothes that could look like they were from the '60s would make me closer to it.' Forty-eight-year-old stylist Julie Matos, who owns three pairs, has loved them since she was a kid. 'I remember going on a shopping trip with the Girl Scouts when I was young and buying my first pair at Macy's,' the Chinatown resident recalled to The Post. 14 Matos shows off a pair of black capri pants she owns. Emmy Park for She recently dug out a pair of Ports 1961 capris she had bought over a decade ago. She has since purchased two more pairs, including a 'sexy, fun' sheer option with lace trim. 'I figure I can show my legs a little more,' she said. 'Like, 'Look, I'm 48, and I'm still bringing it.'' Toronto-based writer Isabel Slone, who chronicles her fashion obsessions on her newsletter Freak Palace, said that a month ago, she was 'gripped by this feverish desire to own capri pants — specifically a pair of vintage Emilio Pucci leggings.' 14 Matos has three pairs of capris in her fashion lineup. Emmy Park for 14 'I figure I can show my legs a little more,' Matos said. Emmy Park for 'I immediately saw myself wearing them with a baggy, oversized, button-down top and maybe a headscarf,' said the 35-year-old. 'It's hard to think of a more glamorous image than the one of Marilyn Monroe wearing pedal pushers with a tight sweater and a scarf tied around her head,' she said. 'It's an image that contains this nonchalant elegance and authenticity that I think a lot of people are striving for today.' Angela Betancourt, 43, initially balked when she heard capris were trending once again. The communications exec frequently wore them in her 20s, until she saw a picture of herself in them. 'I looked really weird,' the Springfield, Massachusetts, mom recalled. 'The photo did not match at all the image I had in my head of how I looked.' She got rid of all her capris, except for a pink linen pair with embroidered lace trim that she scored on sale at Bloomingdale's nearly two decades ago. 14 Angela Betancourt is re-embracing a pair of capri pants from two decades ago. Joe Buglewicz for NY Post 'I paid $125, which was a lot of money at the time, but they were just really unique,' she told The Post. This summer, with the silhouette trending once again, Betancourt took the pink pants out of her closet. She was surprised that they not only fit, but that she loved them. 'I had so much fun wearing them,' she said. 'It's funny: the last time I wore capris, 'Sex and the City' was on, and now my girls are back, and I'm wearing capris again,' she said. 'It just feels right.'
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Daniel Dae Kim says ‘Lost' helped him with his new show, ‘Butterfly'
He's flying into a spy show. 'Lost' star Daniel Dae Kim stars in and exec produces the new Prime Video spy thriller, 'Butterfly.' 'I've always wanted to make a show that bridged Korean culture with American culture,' Kim, 57, exclusively told The Post. 'Because that's who I am. And, I haven't seen anything like that on TV before.' Advertisement 6 Daniel Dae Kim in 'Butterfly.' ©Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection 6 Daniel Dae Kim at the 'Butterfly' Premiere at Regal Union Square on August 5, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images He added, 'And so I thought, why not try and make it if I haven't seen it? We were able to adapt this comic book…The original was set in Europe, and I thought if we transplant it to Korea, because of what I look like, then it's a natural segue to address the themes that I'm interested in.' Advertisement Premiering Aug. 13 on Prime Video, 'Butterfly' was based on graphic novels of the same name, and follows David Jung (Kim), a former US intelligence operative living in South Korea. His life gets shaken up when he must evade agents sent to kill him. To make matters more complicated, this sends him back into his estranged daughter Rebecca's (Reina Hardesty) life. Piper Perabo plays Rebecca's boss. Kim, who has been married to his wife, Mia Kim, since 1993, and shares two sons with her, told The Post, 'I'm a father, and so I was able to draw from the experiences I've had as a parent… because parent/child dynamics are rarely simple.' 6 Daniel Dae Kim in 'Butterfly.' ©Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement The Tony-nominated actor said that the crux of the difficult relationship between David and Rebecca is that, 'David is someone who thinks he's doing the right thing for his family. But, they're completely wrong decisions in the eyes of his daughter.' Kim, who first rose to fame on 'Lost,' spoke Korean on that hit ABC show. The actor, who was born in South Korea but grew up in America, has stated in previous interviews that he had to brush up on the Korean language for his role on the iconic mystery show. The 'Hawaii Five-0' actor mostly speaks English on 'Butterfly,' but since it's set in Korea, the language appears in the show, too. 6 Daniel Dae Kim and his son, Jackson Kim, at the 'Butterfly' premiere at Regal Union Square on August 5, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images Advertisement 'I always spoke Korean, and I always understood it,' Kim told The Post. 'But I didn't speak it as much as I used to when I was growing up. So, the speaking part is what I had to relearn [for 'Lost'].' When he was filming 'Butterfly' in Korea, he said he found it 'easier this time around,' because 'I kept up [the language] a little bit since the days of 'Lost.'' The 'KPop Demon Hunters' actor added that it was also 'more challenging, because the levels of conversation I was having in Korea were more sophisticated, because I'm also producing this. But anytime I get to speak Korean, it's a thrill for me, especially on camera.' 'Lost' was on from 2004 to 2010 – but despite the fact that it aired over twenty years ago, new fans still flock to that show and debate its ending. 6 Daniel Dae Kim with Emilie de Ravin in 'Lost.' ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection 6 Daniel Dae Kim on 'Lost.' ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection 'What an honor it is that twenty years after a show is on the air, that people still remember it,' said Kim. 'A lot of actors will work in this industry for decades if they're lucky enough to even do that, and not have anything that they're known for. To be known for a show that people remember for that long – I feel fortunate,' he added.
