'Adolescence' star Stephen Graham made an incredible promise to young co-star after his mom died of cancer

Stephen Graham has built a reputation as one of the most talented actors in the industry, but beyond his acclaimed performances, he’s known for his deep loyalty and kindness toward his co-stars. His relationship with "This Is England" actor Thomas Turgoose is a beautiful testament to that. Graham, who is now earning praise for his role in Netflix’s hit series "Adolescence," formed a life-changing bond with Turgoose while filming "This Is England" in 2006, as per Independent. The then-13-year-old was cast as Shaun Fields, a troubled boy who becomes entangled with a group of older skinheads.

But behind the scenes, Turgoose was struggling with his mother battling lung cancer, and shortly after filming wrapped, she passed away. With no immediate guardian, Turgoose had to move in with his father, whom he barely knew. Graham, alongside the film’s director Shane Meadows, made a promise to look after him. On the "Private Parts" podcast, Turgoose recalled how they were even willing to take him in, as reported by Lad Bible. "They agreed between them that if they didn’t get on with my dad, or if they didn’t see my dad fit to bring me up, they were gonna adopt me," he shared.

Thankfully, Turgoose was able to form a strong bond with his father, saying, "Me and my dad are best friends now, whereas, when I moved in with him, I didn’t know him." But he never forgot how much Graham and Meadows looked out for him, adding, "Stephen Graham promised my mum he'd look out for me. Everyone involved in 'This Is England' is family to me." Turgoose, who went on to reprise his "This Is England" role in multiple sequels, reflects on how different his life could have been had he not landed the role. He once admitted, "I was destined for prison. Shoplifting things I didn't need. There was a hardware store in Grimsby that I used to steal spray paint from for no reason." 

This wasn’t the only time Graham extended his support to rising stars in the industry. The 51-year-old has long been known for mentoring up-and-coming actors, including "Killing Eve’s" Jodie Comer, who credited him in her BAFTA speech in 2019 for helping shape her career. Now, with "Adolescence," Graham has once again lifted a new talent into the spotlight—15-year-old Owen Cooper, who plays Jamie Miller, a child accused of murder. Cooper’s performance has been described as Adolescence's "biggest achievement," earning him widespread recognition and even securing him a role in Emerald Fennell’s upcoming "Wuthering Heights" adaptation. 

Stephen Graham’s kindness is a shining example of how meaningful gestures can change lives. Just like him, another celebrated British actor, Michael Sheen, took his generosity to a whole new level by eliminating over $1.29 million (£1 million) in debt for 900 people he had never met. The "Good Omens" star launched a debt acquisition company to help struggling individuals in South Wales. Sheen revealed that while he didn’t have vast sums of money to give away, he wanted to make a tangible impact. Speaking on "The One Show," Sheen emphasized the need for systemic change, stating, "You need some help to get through these times. That's why I wanted to do this—to draw attention to the fact that this is going on, and there is a way to change it."