Martin Compston (born 8 May 1984) is a Scottish actor and former professional footballer who played as a defender. He plays Anti-Corruption Unit Detective Inspector Steve Arnott in the BBC drama Line of Duty, Liam in Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen, Paul Ferris in The Wee Man, Ewan Brodie in Monarch of the Glen, and Dan Docherty in The Nest.
Early life, family and education Compston was born to a Catholic family, the younger of two brothers, The boys were raised in Greenock, Scotland. Martin attended St Columba's High School in neighbouring Gourock.
Football career A promising footballer, he was a youth player with Aberdeen as a teenager, and after leaving school signed for his local professional club, Greenock Morton.
Compston made two first-team appearances in the 2001–02 season, in which the team was relegated to the Third Division. In both matches he appeared as a substitute and Morton lost 4–0, to Alloa Athletic and Queen of the South. After leaving Morton he briefly played in junior football for Greenock Juniors.
Acting career Having never acted before, Compston successfully auditioned for the lead role in Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen, which was being filmed locally. The film's success at the Cannes Film Festival gave him instant celebrity status in Scotland. Both he and his co-star William Ruane were nominated for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards, with Compston winning the category.
He had a regular role in the BBC TV serial Monarch of the Glen. He then appeared in three films: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (Jury Prize and Best Ensemble Cast at the Sundance Festival) with Robert Downey, Jr.; Red Road (Jury Prize at Cannes), shot in Scotland with Kate Dickie and Tony Curran, for which he was nominated as Best Supporting Actor at the Scottish BAFTAs; and True North with Peter Mullan and Gary Lewis, for which he was nominated as Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards.
Compston starred in the 2010 film Soulboy, alongside Craig Parkinson, playing the role of Joe McCain. He also made a cameo appearance in a low-budget web series, Night is Day. Compston appeared in The View's music video for "Grace" and "How Long". In 2012 Compston played the lead role of Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott, a detective in an anti-corruption squad, in the BBC police drama Line of Duty, acting alongside Craig Parkinson once more. In the same year he also starred in the violent thriller Piggy. Going back to his Scottish roots, he then appeared in the lead role in The Wee Man, directed by Ray Burdis, a film depicting the life of the Glasgow gangster Paul Ferris. It was released in the UK in January 2013.
In April 2013 Compston starred in the ITV miniseries The Ice Cream Girls. He appeared as Roy James in The Great Train Robbery.
In 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021 Compston reprised his lead role of Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in five more series of police drama Line of Duty, which moved from BBC Two to BBC One at the start of its fourth series. In 2016 he starred in the three-part Scottish television series In Plain Sight as serial murderer Peter Manuel. In 2020, he starred alongside Sophie Rundle in the television series The Nest. In 2021 Compston was cast to star as Fulmer Hamilton in the Amazon Prime Video thriller The Rig, which was released in January 2023. In March 2022, Compston starred in Our House. The drama series is based on the novel Our House by Louise Candlish.
Personal life In 2016 Compston married Tianna Chanel Flynn, an American actress. They have a son and live in both Scotland and Las Vegas.
Political views Compston is a supporter of Scottish independence and the Scottish National Party.
Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 2002 Sweet Sixteen Liam 2004 Niceland (Population. 1.000.002) Jed2005 Tickets Jamesy Wild Country Lee2006 A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Mike O'Shea Red Road Stevie True North Sean2008 Doomsday Joshua Freakdog Sean The Prayer Stevie Short2009 The Damned United John O'Hare The Disappearance of Alice Creed Danny Spunkbubble Togs Short2010 Pimp Zeb Soulboy Joe McCain Donkeys Stevie Blantyre Village on the Roof Allen Short Paris/Sexy Seamus Short2011 Ghosted Paul 7 Lives Rory Four Lover How to Stop Being a Loser Adams Hit and Run Daz Short2012 When the Lights Went Out Mr. Price Sister Mike Strippers vs Werewolves Scott Piggy Joe2013 The Wee Man Paul Ferris Filth Gorman2015 The Legend of Barney Thomson Chris Porter Scottish Mussel Ritchie 2017 The Hunter's Prayer Metzger 2018 Mary Queen of Scots Lord Bothwell 2019 The Aftermath Burnham
Television Year Title Role Notes2003 The Royal Jeffrey Carpenter Episode: "Snakes and Ladders" Rockface Jason Farinelli 2 episodes 2003–2005 Monarch of the Glen Ewan Brodie Series regular 2004 Casualty Matty Howell Episode: "Lock Down" 2007 Night Is Day Head Gangster Episode: "Sacrifices" 2009 Eadar-Chluich Episode: "Bha Mi'n Raoir san Taigh-Osta" 2010 Five Daughters Jon 1 episode 2012–2026 Line of Duty DS/DI Steve Arnott Series regular2013 The Ice Cream Girls Marcus Hansley Mini-series Agatha Christie's Marple Alfred Pollock Episode: "Greenshaw's Folly" The Great Train Robbery Roy James Mini-series2014 Silent Witness DS Jason Ross Episode: "In a Lonely Place" Ripper Street Edwin Havelock Episode: "Live Free, Live True"2016 Death in Paradise Dexter Allen Episode: "Dishing Up Murder" In Plain Sight Peter Manuel Mini-series 2017 Victoria Dr. Traill Episode: "Faith, Hope & Charity" 2018 Urban Myths Midge Ure Episode: "Backstage at Live Aid" 2019 Still Game Phone Shop Assistant Episode: "Local Hero" 2019–2022 Traces Daniel MacAfee Series regular 2020 The Nest Dan Docherty Mini-series 2021 Vigil CPO Craig Burke Series 1: Series regular 2022Our House Bram LawsonMartin Compston's Scottish Fling Himself Travel mini-seriesMayflies Jimmy Two-part drama 2023–present The Rig Fulmer Hamilton 2024 Martin Compston's Norwegian Fling Himself Travel mini-series 2025 Fear Martyn Mini-series. Lead Role 2025 The Revenge Club Calum Baird 6 episodes 2026 Red Eye Clay Brody Series two
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