Martin Compston (born 8 May 1984) is a Scottish actor and former professional footballer. He is perhaps most notable for his role as Liam in Sweet Sixteen, for his role as Ewan Brodie in Monarch of the Glen, and for his lead role in the popular crime show Line of Duty.

Biography

Compston was born and brought up in Greenock, Inverclyde, and attended St. Columba's High School in neighbouring Gourock. A youth footballer, after leaving school he signed for local professional team Greenock Morton. He has an older brother, Barry.

Compston made two appearances for Morton at the end of the 2001–2002 season, in which the 'Ton were relegated from the Scottish Football League First Division. In both matches he appeared as a substitute, and both times Morton lost 4–0, to Alloa Athletic and Queen of the South.

Having never acted before, he successfully auditioned for the lead role in Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen, which was being filmed locally. The film's success at the Cannes Film Festival gave him instant celebrity status in Scotland. His subsequent film career was comparatively low key as he wanted to "serve his apprenticeship" with a regular role in the BBC TV drama serial Monarch of the Glen. He then appeared in three films: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (Jury Prize and Best Ensemble Cast at the Sundance Festival) with Robert Downey, Jr.; Red Road (Jury Prize at Cannes), shot in Scotland with Kate Dickie and Tony Curran, for which he was nominated Best Supporting Actor at the Scottish BAFTAs; and True North with Peter Mullan and Gary Lewis, for which he was nominated as Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards.

Compston made a cameo appearance in small budget web series "Night Is Day". His next role was in the 2010 film Soulboy. He also appeared in the horror film The 4th Reich as Pte. Newman.

Compston appeared in The View's music video for "Grace" and "How Long".

In June–July 2012, Compston starred in the BBC police drama Line of Duty. The show ran a second series in February–March 2014.

In 2012 Compston also starred in the violent thriller Piggy. Back to his Scottish roots, he then appeared in the lead role in The Wee Man, directed by Ray Burdis, a film depicting the life of renowned Glasgow Gangster Paul Ferris. It was released in the UK in January 2013.

In April 2013 Compston starred in the ITV mini-series The Ice Cream Girls.

Compston appeared as Roy James in The Great Train Robbery.