Stephen Graham Launches a Global Letters Project About Masculinity
Emmy-winning actor Stephen Graham, best known for his role in Netflix’s Adolescence, has announced a new initiative designed to spark candid conversations between fathers and sons. The project, Letters to Our Sons, invites fathers from around the world to write personal letters reflecting on what it means to be a man, with the collected letters to form a forthcoming book.
The project joins the momentum created by Graham’s recent television work, which delved into modern masculinity and the pressures facing young men in a digital age. Graham will co-author the book with psychology lecturer Orly Klein, and Letters to Our Sons is slated for publication by Bloomsbury next October. The project is framed as a global dialogue about fatherhood, identity, and the evolving notion of masculinity.
How Fathers Can Participate
From October 15, fathers worldwide can submit letters to their sons through the project’s official website. Submissions will remain open until January 12, 2026. Selected letters will be published alongside contributions from Graham and other notable figures, creating a mosaic of experiences, values, and hopes across generations. The initiative emphasizes openness, vulnerability, and the importance of honest conversations about what it means to be a man today.
Why This Project Matters
Graham has spoken about a perceived widening gap between fathers and sons in contemporary life. He hopes that Letters to Our Sons will foster deeper, more meaningful exchanges that counteract harmful stereotypes and online noise. “There is arguably an even bigger disconnect between fathers and sons than ever before,” he said, adding that the project seeks voices from men of all ages, including first-time dads, absent fathers, and those who want to articulate love and guidance more clearly.
The book’s co-creator, Orly Klein, brings a complementary perspective grounded in psychology and youth culture. Klein’s work often explores marginalization and identity; she previously observed the impact of mentorship and real-life dialogue on boys navigating adolescence. Her personal experiment—having male friends write letters to her own son on his 13th birthday—helped inspire the collaborative concept behind the book.
The Concrete Impact Beyond the Page
Bloomsbury describes the project as a potential catalyst for a broader social and cultural movement around healthy expressions of masculinity. For many participants, the letters may serve as a lasting reminder of positive fatherly influence, as well as a blueprint for how to discuss sensitive topics such as emotions, vulnerability, and respect in a world saturated with competing male archetypes.
In addition to the literary effort, Graham and Klein have pledged to donate for every published letter to two organizations supporting young men’s mental health: MANUP? and Dad La Soul. The collaboration underscores a practical dimension of the project—channeling readers’ reflections into real-world support and resources for boys and young men who may be struggling with identity, self-worth, or online pressures.
Context: From Adolescence to Letters
Graham’s Adolescence series opened a national and international conversation about how boys become men under modern pressures, including digital influences and peer dynamics. The response, including attention from public figures and policymakers, highlighted the need for constructive spaces where fathers can engage in meaningful dialogue with their sons. The new book builds on that momentum, offering a tangible framework for intergenerational exchange through personal letters that speak to lived experience rather than slogans.
What Readers and Participants Should Expect
While Letters to Our Sons is still in its early stages, the project promises an intimate collection that captures a spectrum of male perspectives—from tender, hopeful messages to hard-won lessons learned in hardship. By combining Graham’s storytelling influence with Klein’s research-backed approach, the book aims to be both deeply personal and broadly applicable across cultures. The initiative invites readers to reflect on their own fatherly journeys and consider how honest, loving communication can reshape families and communities.
