Golden Globes 2026: Erin Doherty Wins Best Supporting Actress on Television
Erin Doherty won Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television at the 2026 Golden Globes on Sunday night for her performance in the limited series “Adolescence” on Netflix. The British actress added another major award to what has become an impressive run over the past two years. Here is a look at her night.
A Standout Performance in “Adolescence”
Doherty plays Briony Ariston, a therapist whose involvement in a local tragedy becomes the emotional anchor of “Adolescence.” The series follows a group of teenagers and adults in a small English town as they navigate the aftermath of a violent murder. Doherty’s performance had already earned her Best Supporting Actress awards at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards, and similar nominations from the Astra TV Awards, the Gotham TV Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Multiple Wins for “Adolescence” at the Golden Globes
“Adolescence” emerged as one of the night’s most successful television titles. In addition to Doherty’s win, the series earned the Golden Globe for Best Limited or Anthology Series, continuing its strong showing after a widely discussed release last spring. Stephen Graham won Best Actor in a Limited Series for his role as Eddie Miller, and Owen Cooper won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Jamie Miller. Ashley Walters was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for their role as Luke Bascombe.
“Adolescence” Cast and Creative Team
Doherty had already drawn attention for her recent work in the Netflix series “The Crown.” The cast around her in this series played off each other well, and each brought a unique experience to the series. Walters is best known for his work in “Top Boy” and “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ .” Graham has been featured in several big hits, like “Gangs of New York,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, the “Venom” franchise, and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” Cooper made his acting debut in the series and brought a fresh-faced approach to his role.
The series was created by Graham and Jack Thorne. Thorne is best known for films like “Wonder” (2017) and “Enola Holmes” (2020), the “This is England” mini-series, and the stage play of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” (2016). Each episode was filmed in one continuous one-hour shot with no editing.
Audience Response and Viewership
“Adolescence” has accumulated more than 140 million streams since its debut in March of 2025. It was viewed over 66 million times globally in its first two weeks, according to Netflix’s internal reporting. Its performance placed it among the most‑watched limited series releases of 2025.
The show’s reception on social media contributed to its visibility, with episodes trending on X and TikTok as viewers discussed the series’ emotional plot and performances. Doherty’s character became a focal point of online conversation, particularly after the release of the penultimate episode (we won’t spoil the scene here), which drew more than 8 million overnight viewers in the U.K.
Erin Doherty’s Acceptance Speech
Doherty’s speech first thanked the cast and crew, while acknowledging the emotional weight of the series, especially an Episode 3 scene (mentioned above) that viewers talked about for weeks afterward. Portions of her excited remarks were briefly muted during the broadcast, though the uncensored version is available online. She closed by making a point to thank therapists for the role they play in mental health, and she expressed what an honor it had been to play one.
Looking Ahead
Doherty’s win at the Golden Globes on Sunday adds momentum to a career already defined by major accolades. With “Adolescence” continuing to reach new audiences on Netflix, interest in her next project has grown steadily. She is currently in pre-production of the upcoming family drama series California Avenue. IMDB describes the series as the story of a mother and child who seek shelter at a peaceful canal-side caravan park, where healing, love, and a family reunion unfold amid the English countryside.
