3/12/22, 1:23 PM Martin Compston: Plucked to stardom from a school corridor - BBC News

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Martin Compston: Plucked to stardom from

a school corridor
3 hours ago

Martin Compston speaks to BBC The Edit's David Farrell about Sweet Sixteen
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3/12/22, 1:23 PM Martin Compston: Plucked to stardom from a school corridor - BBC News
Martin Compston speaks to BBC The Edit s David Farrell about Sweet Sixteen

He is best known for playing Detective Inspector Steve Arnott in Line of

Duty but Scottish actor Martin Compston vividly remembers how he got his
big break into acting as a schoolboy.

He was pulled up by a teacher in the corridor of St Columba's High School in

Gourock and told that a film crew were looking for kids to star in a film.

"I remember Mr Harkins saying "what they're describing, I think you're exactly
it. I think you should go and meet them'," he told BBC Scotland. "Looking back,
that probably means a wee guy that had far too much to say for himself."

ALAMY

Martin Compston (left) made his acting debut in Sweet Sixteen 20 years ago

Compston auditioned and landed the lead role in Ken Loach's gritty drama
Sweet Sixteen which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

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The film tells the story of Liam, a teenage boy from a troubled background
who dreams of starting afresh with his mother as soon as she has completed
her prison term.

Liam's attempts to raise money for the two of them are set against the
backdrop of the Inverclyde towns of Greenock - where Compston is from - Port
Glasgow and the coast at Gourock.

It went on to win the Best Screenplay Award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.

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3/12/22, 1:23 PM Martin Compston: Plucked to stardom from a school corridor - BBC News

GETTY IMAGES

Martin Compston was an unknown schoolboy before starring in Ken Loach's gritty drama set in and
around Greenock

GETTY IMAGES

Martin Compston (third right) at Cannes with Ken Loach (second right), Rebecca O'Brien (right) Paul
Laverty (left), William Ruane (second left), Annmarie Fulton (third left).

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"In some ways it feels like a lifetime ago but in other ways I have such vivid
memories of it," Compston, 37, said. "I have recently seen videos of my time in
Cannes - that voice, it's like nails on a chalk board, even going through me. I'm
like 'what you on about kid?' but I'm very proud of it.

"It was a great time in my life and I'll be forever grateful to Ken Loach, Paul
Laverty (screenplay writer) and Rebecca O'Brien (producer) for taking a chance
on me and setting me on a path to, so far, a very lovely career."

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Sweet Sixteen is being shown at Glasgow

Film festival on Sunday with Compston taking part in a Q&A afterwards. It has
already sold out.

'Greenock will always be home'

The actor, who lives between Scotland and Las Vegas with his wife and toddler
son, is proud of his Scottish roots and speaks with great affection for his home
town of Greenock.

Speaking from his Vegas home, he said: "I do love it here but Greenock is, and
always will be, home. It's where all my family and friends are. We're very lucky
to have two homes - it's fantastic to have this [Las Vegas home] as a sort of
getaway for me.

"I am so grateful for how kind people are to me at home, especially in

Inverclyde. You always feel like people are rooting for you in Scotland but it's
nice to get here and just have the anonymity.

GETTY IMAGES

Martin Compston speaks of his hometown of Greenock with great affection

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3/12/22, 1:23 PM Martin Compston: Plucked to stardom from a school corridor - BBC News

"It's quiet - I don't need to plan my trips to Tesco or whatever and get a
disguise on. I can take the wee fella to the park and I can be silly with him, not
having to worry about cameras and stuff. But at the same time I get home next
week and I'll be home for the rest of the year practically and I can't wait.

"I'm under no illusions how lucky we are to have this sort of dual life. We are
very lucky that where we live in Greenock we're in a great spot and my son
loves it over there. He's a lucky, lucky boy."

On being a dad, Compston said: "I'm probably a bit calmer because you have to
be. I think most people would have described me as sociable, I was fond of a
night out. I still am but you have to pick and choose your battles these days.
When my wife is away working I've got to be parent number one which is
great."

After seeing Compston with a London accent in Line of Duty, many fans
assume he is English and are surprised when they hear him speak with a
Scottish accent as he does in his latest drama, Our House.

Martin Compston (right) is close friends with his Line of Duty co-stars Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar

"I've been doing it [acting] 20 years now so I hope people are starting to get
the message," he said.

"People ask me all the time why they put me in an English accent [for Line of
Duty] but it was never a discussion, I'm an actor, it's my job and the character
was from London.

"It's hard, it's another element. You go in and have to do incredibly dense
dialogue for 20 pages with amazing actors - throw an accent in there it can be
tough.

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"But one of the good things about being able to keep my own accent is I feel
with the Scots we can turn on a bit of charm."

'I love them to bits'

Asked whether Line of Duty will return for a seventh series, he said: "We are in
no different position than we have ever been. It's probably just that there's
more attention around the show now and more people want to know if we are
coming back.

"But we've always left a massive gap between shows - up to two years at a
time- so Jed (Mercurio - creator) will just take his time and if he feels there's a
story to be told he'll get in touch with us. We'd all love to work together again
but just in the right circumstances."

Compston has built up a great friendship with Jed Mecurio and fellow Line of
Duty Actors Adrian Dunbar and Vicky McClure over the years.

"We've been doing Line of Duty for over 10 years now so they're a massive part
of my life," he said. "They are genuinely some of my best friends."

The group will all be heading to Greenock on Saturday night to take part in a
fundraiser for Ardgowan Hospice, which is supported by Compston.

"I got on the phone to the guys and right away the three of them said 'let's do
it', he said. "When it comes to stuff like that I love them to bits - they are all
coming up and we'll raise a few quid for the hospice."

More on this story

'Scotland's Justin Bieber' leads oil Line of Duty finale lands record
rig drama cast ratings
24 July 2021 3 May 2021

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3/12/22, 1:23 PM Martin Compston: Plucked to stardom from a school corridor - BBC News

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Television Film Greenock Line of Duty

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