Gone on ITV: Dylan actor Billy Barratt won a Best Actor Emmy at 13, starred in 2025's best horror movie, and has a famous family
He's still only a teenager!
Gone actor Billy Barratt might only be a teenager in real life, but he’s already made his mark in the world of TV and film – just ask his beautiful golden Emmy award.
Netflix drama Adolescence was a huge deal when it first landed in 2025. And young actor Owen Cooper made history when he went on to win a Supporting Actor Emmy (and later a Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and National TV Award).
But before him came Billy Barratt. In 2019, Billy became the youngest winner of the International Emmy Award for Best Actor at the age of 13 for his role in the BBC Two film Responsible Child. In fact, the drama was a forerunner to Adolescence following the trial of a young murderer.
So what else is Billy Barratt famous for? What TV and films has he been in, and who is his famous grandad? Here’s the scoop on the young star of ITV thriller Gone.
Who plays Dylan Sedgwick in the cast of Gone on ITV?
Actor Billy Barratt stars as rugby team star player and struggling school pupil Dylan Sedgwick in Gone. Although he doesn’t appear that much in episode 1, he subsequently becomes a crucial character in the ITV thriller.
Dylan is the star player of his school rugby team but is struggling academically. That’s a difficult position to be in at his elite private school. He feels alienated from his parents and picked on by his overbearing headmaster. Dylan is in a troubled place across the series. He’s angry in the face of his dad’s selfish choices, and his teacher’s punitive attitude. Then there’s the taunts he’s subjected to by his teenage classmates.
This anger will bubble up across the series, as the investigation impinges on Dylan’s family at this very formative time of life.
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What TV shows has Billy Barratt been in?
Billy Barratt has been on our screens since 2016, when he played Ralph Selfridge in the period drama Mr Selfridge. He was around 10 at the time.
That same year, he went on to play Young Luke in the film To Dream. The film followed two self-destructive teenagers who refused to let anything come between their friendship. Subsequent roles included Prince Arthur in the Jodie Comer mini-series The White Princess, Gil in the silly Sharknado 5: Global Swarming, and Ted Roosevelt Jr. in The Alienist.
But it was 2019 when the young actor was catapulted into the sphere of awards and accolades. That year, Billy portrayed Ray in the BBC Two feature film Responsible Child (more on that below).
After that, Billy has played a Young Scrooge in the 2019 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Caspar Morrow in the Apple TV+ drama Invasion. He’s also been in multiple films already. These include Mary Poppins Returns, Crater, My Spy: The Eternal City, and Kraven the Hunter.
In 2025, Billy portrayed Andy in the horror movie Bring Her Back. It’s arguably one of the most disturbing supernatural body horrors ever released. And has a deserved 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, a brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.
Billy has worked on stage, too, including his role in the Kelsey Grammar musical Big Fish in the West End. As well as his music career (more on that below), Billy works as a model, too. And recently walked for Prada at Paris fashion week.
Who played Ray in Responsible Child?
Billy Barratt made history after playing Ray in the chilling BBC Two drama Responsible Child. He became the youngest-ever winner of the International Emmy Award for Best Actor for his powerful performance as murderer in the 2019 film. The movie also received two BAFTA nominations and Billy’s performance earned him a nomination for Best Newcomer at the National Film Awards 2020.
Way before Jack Thorne’s Adolescence, this 90-minute British TV drama (now on Netflix) was based on the true 2014 story of a 12-year-old boy tried for murdering his abusive stepfather. The film questioned the age of criminal responsibility and the UK legal system.
At the time, the film was described as a “gripping” but “hard to watch” drama, highlighting the complexities of children in the justice system. The character was eventually found guilty of manslaughter, not murder.
What is Billy in next?
After playing Dylan in Gone, Billy will appear in road trip comedy drama The Chaperones opposite actors such as Paul Dano, Alfred Molina, and David Jonsson. It follows a drug dealer and his buddies as they embark on a cross-country road trip while escorting a defiant teen, “leading to unexpected complications and misadventures along the way”.
In 2026, Billy will portray a young Neb in the James Cosmo film Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead. A synopsis for the movie says: “300 years after the Big Flood, the legend of an outlawed Storm Rider inspires two rebellious islanders to find out the truth about the origin of their world.”
How is Billy Barratt related to Shakin Stevens?
Actor Billy Barratt has fame in his blood. His grandfather is singer Shakin’ Stevens, who was a big hit in the 80s with hits such as This Ole House, and Green Door. Shaky, real name Michael Barratt, was a Welsh singer and songwriter who did his best to give Elvis a run for his money. And bless him for trying.
The Cardiff-born singer is now 77. He has three grown up kids with his ex-wife Carole Dunn, one of which is record engineer Dean James Barratt who is Billy’s dad. Making Shakin’ Stevens Billy’s grandad.
Billy’s mum is the singer and actress Carolyn Owlett. A former model and member of R&B UK girl band The 411, she enjoyed global success with several top 10 hits in 2004.
Carolyn’s first TV role was playing bad girl Sarah James in series 7 of teen soap Harry and Cosh for Channel 5. She is set to play Bazuka Baby in the film 2027 film Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead opposite her son Billy.
Where is Billy from, and how old is he?
Billy Barratt was born on June 16, 2007, in Brixton, London, Growing up in London, he attended Sylvia Young Theatre School from the age of 11.
He is now 18, and will turn 19 in June 2026.
Is he in a band?
Billy is in an alternative rock band called The Hunger who tour around London. He is the frontman, singer, and guitarist. Talking about his band, he told this website: “We are a rock band. The band involves Cody Molko, Myla Tailor, Bruno Bentovim, and me. We’ve done a tour with The Libertines and we did a residency at the Sebright Arms. And now we’ve got another one coming up.
“We’re releasing demos at the moment. But we’re not releasing songs that are fully mixed, mastered, and recorded with some massive producer. I’m sure it will happen at some point, so stay tuned with The Hunger.”
Read more: Responsible Child, the shocking forerunner to Adolescence, drops on Netflix
