South London teenager becomes youngest ever winner of an International EMMY

A Brixton-born 13-year-old has this year become the youngest ever actor to win an International EMMY award.

Billy Barratt won best performance by an actor for his role in the BBC2 drama Responsible Child, making him the youngest ever recipient of the award.

Billy described his win as being “The best moment of my life” and thanked his family for their support in his acceptance speech, posted on his Instagram.

His acceptance speech, via Zoom, saw him in his living room surrounded by his family who were overjoyed at his win.

He later told BBC News: “They were playing the clips and I was watching and saying, ‘They’ve won’, and was getting ready to clap and then they said ‘Billy Barratt’ and I was so confused.

“My whole family was like, ‘Oh, my god’, so it’s very exciting. And it’s kind of crazy [to be the youngest winner], I don’t know what to think about it.”

Based on a true story, Responsible Child follows Billy’s character Ray, a 12-year-old boy who finds himself standing trial for murder.

Billy is the grandson of Shakin’ Stevens. His mother is actress and presenter Carolyn Owlett who was a former member of UK band The 411.

Speaking about his troubled character Billy said: “There are so many real-life Rays out there and we all hope this story shines a light on the faults in the system that put kids on trial without taking into consideration all the factors that put them in that position in the first place.”

The 90-minute drama which aired on BBC2 last year is Barratt’s largest role to date with a review by The Times describing Billy’s portrayal as extraordinary.

The 48th International Emmy Awards were live-streamed online for the first time, because of the pandemic.