From Ghosting to Emmy Gold: How Erin Doherty Almost Missed Her Award-Winning Role

Erin Doherty ignored Stephen Graham's repeated phone calls. It wasn't personal—she is just bad with her phone. But those calls were about a new project. Graham and his wife, Hannah Walters, finally reached her. They offered Doherty a role in "Adolescence," a drama about a teenage boy radicalized by online misogyny. She said yes immediately, without even reading the script. That decision changed her year. Released on Netflix in March, "Adolescence" has been viewed nearly 150 million times. It sparked national debates, was shown in schools, and its creators were invited to the UK government's headquarters. Doherty won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a psychologist in the series. She also starred alongside Graham in the Disney+ boxing drama "A Thousand Blows." Did she know the show would be a huge hit? "No," Doherty says. "But you do know when you’re a part of something that’s good and deserves to be seen."