Martin Compston

Biography

Martin Compston is a Scottish actor and former professional footballer, born on May 8, 1984, in Greenock, Scotland. He began his career in football before making his acting debut in the acclaimed Scottish film Sweet Sixteen (2002), directed by Ken Loach. His performance as Liam McKendrick earned him the Scottish BAFTA Award for Best Actor.

Compston went on to appear in films including Monarch of the Glen, Red Road (2006), A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006), Doomsday (2008), The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009), and Piggy (2012). He also developed an extensive television career with roles in The Royal, The Nest, Line of Duty, and The Rig.

He became internationally recognized for playing Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in the BBC crime drama Line of Duty. Compston appeared throughout the series, becoming one of its central characters and earning critical recognition for his performance.

Compston also starred as Fulmer Hamilton in the Amazon Prime Video supernatural thriller The Rig, which follows workers trapped on a North Sea oil platform after mysterious events cut them off from the mainland. His performance helped anchor the ensemble cast alongside Emily Hampshire, Iain Glen, Mark Bonnar, and others.

His later television credits include Our House, Vigil, and The Winter King. He has also continued working in feature films and has taken on producing roles.

With a career spanning film and television, Martin Compston is particularly known for intense dramatic performances, especially in crime, thriller, and supernatural productions. His work in Sweet Sixteen, Line of Duty, and The Rig has established him as one of Scotland's prominent contemporary screen actors.