Inside ‘Adolescence’ Support

Stephen Graham and his wife, actress Hannah Walters, personally covered rent for crew members on Adolescence, the Netflix drama filmed in Yorkshire, through their company Matriarch Productions. This support helped emerging talent who otherwise couldn’t afford to live near the set.

The four-part series follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller’s descent into misogynistic online communities, culminating in the murder of a classmate. Adolescence quickly sparked national debate on incel culture and misogyny, even drawing calls in Parliament for it to become compulsory school viewing.

Beyond telling this important story, Graham and Walters aimed to address deeper systemic issues in the film and television industry. Working-class representation in the sector has reached a decade low, accounting for just eight percent of the workforce. By funding rent for crew members from similar backgrounds, they sought to remove financial barriers and create career opportunities.

In an interview with GQ, Stephen Graham shared, “I’m not saying this to boast… We covered accommodation costs because many couldn’t afford it otherwise. By saying, ‘We understand your ambition, so we’ll take care of the rent,’ it allows that person to save money and be financially stable for their next project.”

The This Is England star, aged 51, who identifies as a “mixed-race working-class kid from a council flat,” grew up in Kirkby, near Liverpool, raised by his mother, a social worker. His background highlights the ongoing socio-economic inequalities that persist within the entertainment industry.

Recent findings from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre at the University of Sheffield reveal that in 2024, most professionals in film and television hail from middle- to upper-class backgrounds, underscoring ongoing barriers to entry for working-class talent.

Stephen Graham’s efforts echo those of Eddie Redmayne, who in 2016 confessed to helping cover rent for fellow actors facing financial hardship. Redmayne pointed out that London’s soaring living costs remain a major hurdle for newcomers trying to break into the industry.

Through their practical support and advocacy, Graham and Walters are actively working to make the creative industry more inclusive and sustainable for future generations.