Martin Compton happy to be typecast by Line of Duty
Martin Compston is "happy" to be typecast by Line of Duty because he is so proud of the show.
Martin Compston is "happy" to be typecast by Line of Duty.
The Scottish actor became a household name playing DI Steve Arnott in the anti-corruption police drama and while he felt being tied to one of his earliest roles was frustrating, he feels very differently about the crime saga.
He told The Guardian newspaper: “It wasn’t until series five that things really blew up.
“When Sweet Sixteen came out, I was 17. It did really well, but it became a monkey on my back because everyone thought: ‘That’s who you are.’
"Now if I’m typecast, if they say ‘Line of Duty is the best thing you’ll ever do’, I’m happy. I’m very comfortable in my own skin and career.”
The 2021 season six finale of Line of Duty was watched by a staggering 17 million people and Martin couldn't be prouder.
He said: “That 9 o’clock slot, whether it be on a Sunday night or over the holidays, it’s gold dust.
“You feel like you’ve got the country in the palm of your hand if you’ve got something good to show them, and there’s no feeling like it.”
Despite his own fan base, Martin thinks the particular appeal of Line of Duty is in Adrian Dunbar's Supt. Ted Hastings.
He said: “He’s become like the nation’s uncle. A guy who wants to do right. People want to root for the good guys, and know there are good guys out there, especially in times like these.”
The Revenge Club actor also has the second season of Red Eye hitting screens in January, in which he plays the head of security at the American embassy in London during a terrorist attack, and he loves the role.
He said: "[There is so much] running about, talking into your wrist, hand on the ear like you’ve got an earpiece, that’s just cops and robbers grown up. I love all that. I live for all that. Getting to play this kick-ass, ex-SAS agent, it’s brilliant fun.”
Martin is also moving into producing because he finds it hard to relax.
He said: “You get that working-class guilt, you need to do something.
“You’re suddenly thinking, should we be filming this on a train or a ferry? What’s cheaper? When you’re reading a script as an actor, all you’re thinking is: ‘Why is the character doing that?’ You’re not thinking: ‘That’s going to cost us two days’.”
