As his previous boss Ted Hastings would say, ‘Now we’re cooking with gasoline.’ Martin Compston has swapped the waistcoats and interview rooms of Line Of Obligation for a tough hat and an oil platform within the wild North Sea in new supernatural thriller The Rig.
It’s a component near his coronary heart, as his personal father used to work on these distant, towering constructions, however filming proved surprisingly harmful when a significant stunt went unsuitable, as Martin reveals with a nervous snicker. ‘Yeah, it obtained a wee bit toasty!’
A mysterious fog causes havoc at one level and his character, a quiet however plucky oil employee known as Fulmer, has to rescue the crew from destruction by capturing a flare right into a cloud of gasoline to relight the rig’s very important flame. The following explosion catches him. ‘At first I used to be going, “Wow, I’m on hearth and I don’t really feel a factor, what they’ll do is wonderful,”’ recollects Martin, who had protecting padding below his burning outfit. ‘Then I went, “Oh, I can really feel this a wee bit.” After which, “I can actually really feel it now!”’
Though the flames started to achieve the pores and skin on his again, nonetheless Martin didn’t cry out. ‘There’s this daft factor as an actor, you retain going till someone says, “Lower!”’
As his previous boss Ted Hastings would say, ‘Now we’re cooking with gasoline.’ Martin Compston (pictured) has swapped the waistcoats and interview rooms of Line Of Obligation for a tough hat and an oil platform within the wild North Sea in new supernatural thriller The Rig
His misery should have been seen although, as a result of one of many solid intervened to save lots of him. ‘It was Iain Glen [who plays the leader of the oil rig team] who mentioned, “Guys, this isn’t going fairly as deliberate.” So that they had been on prime of it instantly.’ Martin was shaken, however was he really damage? ‘No. A little bit of a tan!’
That’s a sometimes jokey method from an actor who appears completely right down to earth, regardless of being one of many stars of the most-watched British drama of the century. A report TV viewers watched the sixth – and presumably ultimate – collection of Line Of Obligation final spring, as colleagues Ted Hastings, Kate Fleming and Steve Arnott, performed by Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin, lastly tracked down the grasp prison H. There was even a Hollywood-style shoot-out. ‘I like all that stuff, like getting set on hearth. It’s a terrific stick with it.’
He’s retaining it breezy for the second, however Martin will go deep at present and speak about his life and his household in a method this very personal man has not often achieved earlier than. The 38-year-old from Greenock in western Scotland will get to make use of his personal accent in The Rig somewhat than the English one he makes use of in Line Of Obligation, and performs a person with an analogous job to the one his father had. ‘There have been lots of good wee connections like that. They gave us the correct equipment, so I obtained to offer my dad my boots on the finish. He nonetheless works within the shipyards, so he’s had respectable put on out of them.’
What’s going to his dad make of the present? ‘He’ll be the primary to inform me if there’s something unsuitable! It was good to speak to him about this, as a result of it seems an oil rig is a superb place for drama. It’s a harmful, claustrophobic, high-tension setting,’ says Martin. ‘If you happen to don’t like someone, you’ll nonetheless see them 4 or 5 occasions a day, there’s nowhere to cover.’
He remembers his father leaving for his fortnight at sea. ‘I had this very glamorous thought of Aberdeen as a child, as a result of my mum would say, “Your dad’s away, he’s happening the helicopter.”’ Then got here the return. ‘I keep in mind me and my brother selecting him up on the prepare station – and I imply selecting him up.’ The crews began consuming as quickly as their flight dwelling landed and a few stored it up till their return to work. ‘My dad would have his drink on the way in which down, then get again to regular life. It was a really arduous residing.’
It’s a component near his coronary heart, as his personal father used to work on these distant, towering constructions, however filming proved surprisingly harmful when a significant stunt went unsuitable, as Martin (pictured) reveals with a nervous snicker. ‘Yeah, it obtained a wee bit toasty!’
North Sea oil and gasoline are not trendy in nowadays of eco-activism, however Martin says, ‘We come from a spot of respect. As a feat of engineering, what was achieved within the North Sea is one thing we needs to be happy with. It stored the economic system operating for many years.’ There’s additionally a powerful environmental message in The Rig, as unusual forces are launched by the exploitation of fossil fuels. ‘The character performed by Mark Bonnar has this pretty line, “If we hold punching holes within the earth, ultimately it’s gonna punch again.” That’s on the coronary heart of it.’
Bonnar is one in every of a number of members of the solid who additionally labored on Line Of Obligation, together with Owen Teale, Rochenda Sandall and the director John Strickland. They had been collectively filming The Rig in Edinburgh when Line Of Obligation started to air in 2021. ‘It was pretty to have all of them to speak to about what was taking place,’ says Martin, who was astonished on the present’s snowballing recognition.
‘It was overwhelming. Final 12 months obtained a bit out of hand. The anticipation was an excessive amount of,’ he says. ‘The night time it began, I needed to exit for a stroll. I went as much as Edinburgh Citadel and it was abandoned, as a result of folks had been indoors watching the present. It simply felt too large, which is thrilling as a result of it feels such as you’ve obtained the entire nation watching, however on the identical time you don’t wish to let anybody down.’
Even the late Queen reportedly turned engrossed, discovering it a distraction after the demise of the Duke of Edinburgh. ‘These issues are surreal,’ says Martin with a shake of his head. ‘I attempt not to consider it. If anyone watches it, meaning the world to me. I hope she loved it.’
So is Line Of Obligation coming again? ‘No rapid plans,’ says Martin firmly. ‘We all the time take huge time in between. We wouldn’t come again only for the sake of it. The author Jed Mercurio would solely do it if he had the fitting story. Success is a superb factor, however then you definately’ve obtained to get us all tied right down to do it once more.’ He doesn’t sound all that satisfied. ‘The one factor I might say is that after each different collection I’ve all the time thought, “Yeah, we’ll come again.” However after the final one I believed, “That may very well be the tip.” I believe all of us felt that method.’
Would he nonetheless say sure, if requested? ‘Sure, as buddies I’d like to work with all of them once more on a private stage, however you don’t wish to depart it on a foul album do you?’ He’s referring to when a band tries to maintain going too lengthy and finally ends up making a garbage report. ‘We went out on an enormous excessive there, it was wildly profitable, so I wouldn’t be sad if that was the tip.’
His priorities have shifted over the ten years since Line Of Obligation started, not least after marrying American actor and occasions planner Tianna Flynn in 2016. Martin now lives a number of the time in her dwelling city of Las Vegas. Their son was born three years in the past. ‘The second that basically obtained to me was lacking my wee one’s first birthday. I keep in mind feeling fairly s****y about that. I watched it on Zoom. Everyone else was there, all of the household,’ says Martin, who was filming Line Of Obligation on the time. ‘You’re doing it for a cause, for a job and for his future, however I keep in mind considering, “I actually needs to be there.”’
His priorities have shifted over the ten years since Line Of Obligation started, not least after marrying American actor and occasions planner Tianna Flynn (pictured collectively in 2019) in 2016. Martin now lives a number of the time in her dwelling city of Las Vegas
So his spouse and little one joined him in Scotland when he was filming The Rig. ‘We’re fortunate to have a house right here and a house in Vegas. It’s for sensible causes, as a result of we want the assist. My home in Greenock is 5 minutes from my mum and pop and our home in Vegas is 5 minutes from my spouse’s mum and pop. Proper now they’re in Vegas and my mother-in-law kind of strikes in once I’m away.’
The place would he name dwelling? ‘I’d say Greenock and he or she’d say Vegas,’ he says, however provides, ’I like the anonymity I’ve over there. My son is such a superb age proper now, he’s so playful: he desires to be dinosaurs or tigers and I like studying him tales so he shouts at me to do the voices. I can do all that at a park in Vegas and folks don’t care. I can swap off fully. However once I’m right here, I’m nervous about someone filming it on their telephone and posting these intimate moments someplace. You’re all the time on edge.’
It’s actually uncommon for Martin to speak as intimately as this about his household, however he’s cautious to not use his boy’s identify. ‘I keep in mind someone saying, “You’re so secretive about your son.” I used to be like, “There have been 100 folks at his christening. Everyone who must know him is aware of him.” I’m extremely happy with him, however there are stuff you wish to hold.’
Different folks go to Vegas to get together, however Martin’s the alternative. ‘It seems like a daft factor to say, however I’m going to Vegas to recuperate. Our neighbourhood is actually quiet. There’s lots of area. The climate’s good. I’m only a dad. My spouse travels quite a bit with work, she throws events in LA for folks. Her job is kind of intense, I’m actually simply at dwelling taking care of the wee fella.’
If that sounds a bit isolating, he’s simply been working with one in every of his closest mates, Scottish actor Tony Curran, on the BBC drama Mayflies (see Kathryn Flett, web page 3), a transferring two-parter a few group of buddies introduced again collectively when one in every of them is instructed he has simply months to dwell. ‘We’ve all obtained that one good friend who’s the ringleader and in the event that they had been to go then every part would crumble. Tony, who performs that half in Mayflies, is that individual for me in actual life too,’ he says. ‘I first met him after we did Crimson Street [a movie from 2006]. He mentioned, “Oh, in the event you’re ever in LA come keep at mine.” I took him up on it and turned up every week later with my suitcase. I slept on an inflatable on his kitchen flooring for 3 months, and we’ve been shut buddies ever since.’
The terminally in poor health man in Mayflies chooses to go to Switzerland to finish his life, resulting in ultimate scenes that made the solid cry. ‘It’s essentially the most emotionally current I’ve ever been on the job. We had been simply gone, no matter the place the digital camera was. It was a really uncooked day.’
The drama, primarily based on a e book by Andrew O’Hagan, additionally made him suppose arduous about whether or not he might finish his life in comparable circumstances. ‘I believed I might, however now I’m not so certain. Folks suppose it’s a straightforward factor to do. It’s not. You may’t simply rock up. There’s lots of stuff it’s a must to undergo. And it’s such an unlimited query. We now have to indicate each factors of view, however for my tuppence-worth I’m a patron of a hospice. I consider they provide wonderful end-of-life care, and folks can go together with dignity.’
Other than Tony Curran, who’re his buddies? ‘I’m nonetheless greatest buddies with the boys I went to major college with: Shauny, Cabey, Mixu.’ The final one is nicknamed after a former Hibernian footballer known as Mixu Paatelainen. Martin was as soon as knowledgeable himself with Greenock Morton and nonetheless performs in charity matches. What do his buddies make of his fame? ‘They simply wind me up. We’re ruthless with one another in our humour. You cannae present any weak point. I speak to them on daily basis on WhatsApp. We’re all mad Celtic followers. I really feel extra related to them than I’ve ever been.’
What about his wealth although? Martin is reported to be price no less than £3 million – does that not get in the way in which? ‘Perhaps it’s only a fortunate factor. I’ve by no means been that flash a man anyway. I’m actually pleased with life on the minute and if it could possibly hold going this manner that might be nice. I’m getting high quality work and a pleasant stage of fame. I liked making The Rig and Mayflies and I’ve obtained a few good issues lined up for subsequent 12 months,’ he says, smiling warmly. ‘I believe issues are going all proper.’
The Rig, Prime Video, from Friday. Mayflies is on BBC iPlayer.
