While audiences embark on the seemingly endless wait for the upcoming season of Line of Duty, which starts filming in January, actor Martin Compston is set to be seen in several upcoming roles. Viewers will spot him in a couple of unexpected guises and also in the beloved form of a brisk and reserved protagonist in Red Eye.
A Revelation in The Revenge Club
Firstly is The Revenge Club, where Compston gives a surprising performance. The premise revolves around a gathering for the recently divorced, a motley group connected only by their shared fate of being dismissed. “There’s no other reason for these characters to be in each other’s company,” Compston observes. “They’re all lonely and in desperate need of companionship. They’re all, in their own ways, damaged, which makes for this volatile dynamic.”
“If you possess an passion about what you’re doing and zeal for what you’re doing, the audience will be with you.”
While this might appear dark, the program is far from it – including scenes in a beat-up community centre are vibrant. The deeds of revenge, carried out by the whole group, start off fairly tame before escalating into dangerous ground. The series at first brings to mind other shows but rapidly establishes its particular voice. “It sits in its own lane,” he explains. “It goes from emotional scenes into a sort of caper. You think you’re going down one path, then you’re not.”
Stepping Outside the Usual Role
A couple of interesting things emerge about Compston's casting in this project. The initial is that he's in a comedic role, a change for him. “It was outside my typical range,” says Compston. Another surprise is his role as the central romantic figure, a significant departure from his usually troubled fictional relationships. He and his co-star share a engaging passionate dynamic.
“That’s one of the things I appreciate about the series,” he continues. “We aren't just good guys who have been wronged. Our former partners might just be people who’ve moved on with their lives. We’ve all gone down this rabbit hole because we had little to hold onto, and suddenly we have this unit.”
Life in Las Vegas
Perhaps more surprising is the off-screen Compston featured in the forthcoming travelogue Living Las Vegas. Having married American actor Tianna Chanel Flynn nearly a decade ago, he splits his time between Scotland and Nevada. The program features him navigating his adopted home city, connecting with characters from a retro store owner to horse riding instructors. It shows a charming and consciously apolitical glimpse of everyday life.
“A lot of people operate on social media,” he notes, carefully. “I’m not oblivious of the problems out there, but we live on a nice street, we’ve got nice neighbours... everyone is just getting on with our lives.” He states his own ideological stance but stresses that, as a resident, he generally tries to keep quiet in an particularly angry public space.
The Comeback of a Hit
The recent announcement of Line of Duty's next series has sparked massive anticipation. The series earned unprecedented audiences for its previous season end. “The 9 o’clock time, be it on a Sunday night or over the holidays, it’s gold dust,” Compston reflects. “You feel like you’ve got the country in the palm of your hand if you’ve got something great to show them.”
He notes that the figure of Supt Ted Hastings, played by Adrian Dunbar, has struck a chord profoundly with viewers. “He’s become the country's uncle. A person who wants to do the right thing. People want to support the good guys, and know there are good guys out there.”
Looking Ahead
In the interim, Compston reprises to action-packed thriller territory in the new series of Red Eye, utilizing the determined qualities viewers associate him for. Beyond acting, he is increasingly exploring producing roles. “You get that working-class guilt, you feel you need to do something,” he jokes of his work ethic.
He mentions one idea, a biopic about Allan Pinkerton, a Glasgow-born man who established the Pinkerton detective agency in America. “He founded the secret service, worked on the Underground Railroad... led an remarkable life. This little guy from the Gorbals.” It seems like a story perfectly tailored for an actor known for playing determined individuals.
The Revenge Club is available now on Paramount+; Red Eye airs on ITV1 on New Year’s Day.
