Latest news with #Compston
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Soccer Aid's Martin Compston's professional football career before he left for acting
The Scots Line of Duty star is starring in the Soccer Aid line-up, however, this isn't the first time he's laced up his football boots... Before he was a huge star in the likes of Line of Duty and Mayflies, Martin Compston was actually a professional footballer. The Scots actor is mostly known for playing a waistcoat wearing DS Steve Arnott in the hit BBC drama. The 41-year-old, is set to play Soccer Aid at Old Trafford this evening in the Rest of the World against England, with former Italy star Leonardo Bonucci among his team-mates. He's not the only Scots actor on his team either, as Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd is also set to take on England. However, before Celtic daft Compston turned to acting, he was actually a pro footballer. In his early football career, he had stints with Aberdeen and Morton. The Greenock-born star even played two senior matches for Morton at the end of the 2001/02 season, but without much success. His first appearance resulted in a 4-0 defeat against Alloa Athletic, while his second – another 4-0 defeat, this time against Queen of the South – saw Morton relegated from the Scottish Second Division. Speaking on his pal Si Ferry's famous football podcast, Open Goal, Compston opened up about his brief football career. He explained that he was first spotted while playing in a Scottish underage cup final against a Celtic side which included future Man Utd star Darren Fletcher. After a stint with his hometown club, he was signed by Aberdeen where he played alongside future Premier League star Dean Windass. Compston even captained the Aberdeen youth team for a short period, but the actor knew when his time was up at the club. He told Si: "I remember I was captain at a game and one of the top scouts came down, and we got beat off an East Kilbride select, I went, 'That's that f*****!'" After his time at Aberdeen, Compston found himself back at Morton in the Scottish Second Division. "It just wasn't a good time to be at the club," the actor admitted. "They'd just gone down to the second division and we were struggling. "It was a mad time. We were full-time the YTS [Youth Team Scholarship] players. There was only three or four of us cleaning 40 pairs of boots and cleaning the stadium. "The first team were coming in training at night. There was a lot of hanging about. I felt more like a cleaner than a football player. "I made my debut when I was 17," Compston recalled. "We were away to Alloa. I knew they were only going to pitch me in if we were well up or well down. "I felt terrible, Alloa were winning 2-0 with 40 minutes left and they put a third one in and I was like, 'You beauty.' "The last game of the season, we had to win to stay up and we were playing Queen of the South who had to win to win the league. It was a sell-out, 14,000. The atmosphere was unbelievable." The day didn't go to plan however, he added: "There was some b******... at half-time, I knew I was going on. So I'm spraying balls about. "It smashed somebody and he's run on and rugby tackled me. The stewards were just all laughing. It was nerve-wracking. It was Scottish second division football but it's like, 'You've done that.'" Compston began acting during his football career after he bagged a lead role in Ken Loach's film 'Sweet Sixteen' while still with Morton. "It worked out perfect," Compston explained. "I'd just finished my exams and I'd got my Morton contract. The auditions were at the end of the year. "I went to [Morton manager] Peter Cormack and asked if it was alright to miss a couple of days of pre-season. We filmed it in the close season. He said, 'You're a fit boy, you'll be fine.' I finished filming and went back to Greenock Morton. "I remember being gutted because in the programme notes, the players were asked who's their favourite actor and not one of them said me. I thought one of them, for a joke, would throw my name in there!" Despite Loach being impressed by Compston's acting ability, the director advised him to keep in at his football career. He decided against Loach's advice and auditioned for a Heartbeat spin-off called The Royal. He had been sent the wrong script but still got the part and from then on his mind was set. "That was a big wake-up call," Compston said. "They don't know who I am. They hadn't seen Sweet Sixteen. To get that, I said, 'OK, I'm alright at this.' "Morton weren't going through the best of times. I was driving up the road one day, passing Cappielow [Greenock Morton's stadium] and I just went in and said [to manager Dave McPherson], 'I think I'm going to give this acting a crack.' He said, 'Sorry to lose you,' but I didn't find it too hard to be honest." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Martin Compston's football career before Line of Duty actor made career switch
Scottish actor Martin Compston, best known for his role as DS Steve Arnott in the hit BBC drama Line of Duty, is a former professional footballer, having even had a stint with Aberdeen Before his acting career took off, Line of Duty star Martin Compston was a professional footballer. The Scottish actor is now best known for his role as DS Steve Arnott in the hit BBC drama. The 41-year-old is set to lace up his boots for Soccer Aid at Old Trafford, with kick off on Sunday evening at 7.30pm. Compston will line up for the Rest of the World against England, with former Italy star Leonardo Bonucci among his team-mates. However, Compston was also a pro footballer in Scotland before focusing his energy on becoming an actor. In his early football career, he had stints with Aberdeen and Morton. The Line of Duty actor even played two senior matches for Morton at the end of the 2001/02 season, but without much success. His first appearance resulted in a 4-0 defeat against Alloa Athletic, while his second – another 4-0 defeat, this time against Queen of the South – saw Morton relegated from the Scottish Second Division. On Si Ferry's Open Goal podcast, Compston previously discussed his brief football career. He explained that he was first spotted while playing in a Scottish underage cup final against a Celtic side which included future Man Utd star Darren Fletcher. After a stint with his hometown club, he was signed by Aberdeen where he played alongside future Premier League ace Dean Windass. Compston even captained the Aberdeen youth team for a short period, but the actor knew when his time was up at the club. "I remember I was captain at a game and one of the top scouts came down, and we got beat off an East Kilbride select," Compston said in 2019. "I went, 'That's that f*****!'" After his stint at Aberdeen, Compston found himself back at Morton in the Scottish Second Division. "It just wasn't a good time to be at the club," the actor admitted. "They'd just gone down to the second division and we were struggling. "It was a mad time. We were full-time the YTS [Youth Team Scholarship] players. There was only three or four of us cleaning 40 pairs of boots and cleaning the stadium. "The first team were coming in training at night. There was a lot of hanging about. I felt more like a cleaner than a football player. "I made my debut when I was 17," Compston recalled. "We were away to Alloa. I knew they were only going to pitch me in if we were well up or well down. "I felt terrible, Alloa were winning 2-0 with 40 minutes left and they put a third one in and I was like, 'You beauty.' "The last game of the season, we had to win to stay up and we were playing Queen of the South who had to win to win the league. It was a sell-out, 14,000. The atmosphere was unbelievable." However, the day didn't go entirely smoothly. "There was some b******... at half-time, I knew I was going on. So I'm spraying balls about," Compston said. "It smashed somebody and he's run on and rugby tackled me. The stewards were just all laughing. It was nerve-wracking. It was Scottish second division football but it's like, 'You've done that.'" Compston began acting during his football career after he secured a role in Ken Loach's film 'Sweet Sixteen' while still with Morton. "It worked out perfect," Compston explained. "I'd just finished my exams and I'd got my Morton contract. The auditions were at the end of the year. "I went to [Morton manager] Peter Cormack and asked if it was alright to miss a couple of days of pre-season. We filmed it in the close season. He said, 'You're a fit boy, you'll be fine.' I finished filming and went back to Greenock Morton. "I remember being gutted because in the programme notes, the players were asked who's their favourite actor and not one of them said me. I thought one of them, for a joke, would throw my name in there!" Despite Loach being impressed by Compston's acting ability, the director advised him to stick to football. However, the Line of Duty star didn't heed that advice and auditioned for a Heartbeat spin-off called The Royal. He had been sent the wrong script but still got the part and from then on his mind was set. "That was a big wake-up call," Compston said. "They don't know who I am. They hadn't seen Sweet Sixteen. To get that, I said, 'OK, I'm alright at this.' "Morton weren't going through the best of times. I was driving up the road one day, passing Cappielow [Greenock Morton's stadium] and I just went in and said [to manager Dave McPherson], 'I think I'm going to give this acting a crack.' He said, 'Sorry to lose you,' but I didn't find it too hard to be honest."
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Martin Compston confronted in shopping centre by furious man amid affair accusation
Martin Compston confronted in shopping centre by furious man amid affair accusation The Scottish actor was left terrified by the public encounter as he feared he would be knocked out Compston was wrongfully accused of sending illict texts to another woman Soccer Aid is back for another year and actor Martin Compston is one of the famous faces that will be taking to the pitch at Old Trafford on Sunday evening. The Line of Duty star will be representing the World XI as they take on England at the home of Manchester United and is one of the most qualified celebrities for the charity match, having previously played football at a professional level before finding fame as one of Britain's most-loved actors. During his teenage years, Inverclyde-born Compston was a youth player with Aberdeen and after he left school, he signed for his local professional club Greenock Morton. His footballing career was short-lived, however, as he made two first-team appearances as a defender during the 2001/02 Scottish Second Division season, coming off the bench against Alloa Athletic and Queen of the South. Morton were relegated to the Third Division at the end of the season and, while the huge Celtic fan briefly played junior football for Grennock Juniors, he would never play professionally again. Instead, his career would take a very different turn as, despite having never acted before, Compston landed the lead role in Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen and the role propelled him to fame in Scotland. After winning the award for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards, he then starred in films alongside the likes of Robert Downey Jr and Peter Mullan, while he had a regular role in BBC series Monarch of the Glen. However, today, the 41-year-old is best known for his role as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in BBC police drama Line of Duty. The role has seen him nominated for a number of awards, but Compston has also experienced the downside of fame first-hand after a bizarre experience in a shopping centre, when he was confronted by a furious man who accused him of having an affair with his partner. Compston - who has been married to American actress Tianna Chanel Flynn since 2016 - recalled the strange encounter on his Restless Natives podcast, as he revealed that he was the victim of an imposter who had posed as him before sending the woman in question a serious of illicit messages. 'I was in Braehead shopping centre with my mates and this lassie came up to me with this hardy boy behind her," the actor recalled. "She went, 'He knows.' I was like, 'Excuse me?' She said, 'He's been through my phone, he found our texts.' This boy was growling at me. I'll be honest, I sh*t myself. "I said, 'I'm sorry, I have no idea who you are'. She started getting the texts up on her phone and I was like, 'That's not my phone number'. 'The boy was getting edgy and he was ready to knock me out. My mates were not stepping in to back me up either.' Explaining how he resolved the situation, Compston continued: 'I got my phone out and I said, 'Call it,' and she phoned it and nothing happened, my phone didn't ring. 'So somebody has been winding her up by pretending to be me. It was then just this really awkward stand-off of him being confused and still hating me but I had no idea who they were.' Article continues below Having put the strange encounter behind him, the actor is now gearing up for another Soccer Aid performance, which will see him share the pitch with his World XI teammates, including Nemanja Vidic, Bryan Habana and Gladiators star Livi Sheldon. He will be up against an England team that boasts ex-professionals like Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney, as well as celebrities including Tom Grennan, Bella Ramsey and Sir Mo Farah.
Glasgow Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Martin Compston news, interviews and updates on the actor
He joined Aberdeen's youth team as a teen and then signed professionally with his hometown club, Greenock Morton. He made two substitute appearances in the 2001–02 Scottish Football League season before stepping away from the game to pursue acting. Compston during a training session at Champneys Tring ahead of the Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2024 match (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire) Compston's first attempt at acting was for Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen which launched his career. Read on for all the latest Martin Compston news, interviews and updates. Latest Martin Compston news As reported by the Glasgow Times, here is a selection of the latest Martin Compston news stories. First look at Martin Compston in hit ITV drama Red Eye Martin Compston revealed worst thing about his 41st birthday Plush Renfrewshire hotel visited by celebs reopened after makeover Martin Compston's wife Martin Compston is married to Tianna Chanel Flynn, an American actress. They tied the knot at his family's chapel in Greenock in 2016. They have a son together. Martin Compston and his wife Tianna Chanel Flynn (Image: Newsquest) Martin Compston new series Compston is set to feature in the second series of hit ITV drama Red Eye alongside Jing Lusi, who returns as DS Hana Li. ITV shared a first look at the new series on social media (Image: ITV) The thriller was one of ITV's top 10 dramas of 2024 and saw more than eight million viewers tune in with 29.3m streams on ITVX. The actor was also recently seen in Amazon Prime's Fear, a three-part psychological thriller which was filmed in Glasgow. The show had its world premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival in February and was released on Prime in March. Martin Compston in Fear (Image: Kirsty Ellis/Prime Video) The series is about a family who are 'pushed to their absolute limits'. It also stars Anjli Mohindra, Solly McLeod, and Dumbarton's BAFTA-award-winning actor James Cosmo, among others. Martin Compston movies and TV shows Martin Compston is best known for his standout roles in hit TV series and popular films. His popular TV series include his role as DI Steve Arnott in Line of Duty and Ewan Brodie in the beloved BBC show Monarch of the Glen. Some of his movies are Sweet Sixteen, The Wee Man, and Mary Queen of Scots. Martin Compston's height Compston is 5′ 8. Martin Compston's age Martin Compston turned 41 on May 8. What football team does Martin Compston support? Compston is a Celtic fan. The actor partied with Hoops players after they won the Premier Sports Cup Final in 2024. Martin Compston podcast Martin Compston co-hosts the Restless Natives podcast with broadcaster Gordon Smart. The weekly podcast was launched in August 2022, where the duo set themselves 'missions', inspired by the 1985 Scottish film Restless Natives, where they plot new schemes for fun and laughs. Where does Martin Compston live? The actor lives with his wife and son in Las Vegas. He also owns a flat in Greenock to be near his parents on trips back home. Martin Compston Norwegian Fling Norwegian Fling is a six-part BBC Scotland travel series in which Compston and Phil MacHugh retrace Norway's length, from Oslo to the Arctic Circle, on a 2,000-mile road trip. The pair dive into modern Norwegian culture, from roller-skiing and sky-jump zip-lining near Oslo to crowd-surfing at a Black Metal gig and getting up close with a wolf in the wild.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Martin Compston news, interviews and updates on the beloved actor
Martin Compston is a Greenock-born actor and former professional footballer. He joined Aberdeen's youth team as a teen and then signed professionally with his hometown club, Greenock Morton. He made two substitute appearances in the 2001–02 Scottish Football League season before stepping away from the game to pursue acting. Compston during a training session at Champneys Tring ahead of the Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2024 match (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire) Compston's first attempt at acting was for Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen which launched his career. Read on for all the latest Martin Compston news, interviews and updates. As reported by the Glasgow Times, here is a selection of the latest Martin Compston news stories. First look at Martin Compston in hit ITV drama Red Eye Martin Compston revealed worst thing about his 41st birthday Plush Renfrewshire hotel visited by celebs reopened after makeover Martin Compston is married to Tianna Chanel Flynn, an American actress. They tied the knot at his family's chapel in Greenock in 2016. They have a son together. Martin Compston and his wife Tianna Chanel Flynn (Image: Newsquest) Compston is set to feature in the second series of hit ITV drama Red Eye alongside Jing Lusi, who returns as DS Hana Li. ITV shared a first look at the new series on social media (Image: ITV) The thriller was one of ITV's top 10 dramas of 2024 and saw more than eight million viewers tune in with 29.3m streams on ITVX. The actor was also recently seen in Amazon Prime's Fear, a three-part psychological thriller which was filmed in Glasgow. The show had its world premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival in February and was released on Prime in March. Martin Compston in Fear (Image: Kirsty Ellis/Prime Video) The series is about a family who are 'pushed to their absolute limits'. It also stars Anjli Mohindra, Solly McLeod, and Dumbarton's BAFTA-award-winning actor James Cosmo, among others. Martin Compston is best known for his standout roles in hit TV series and popular films. His popular TV series include his role as DI Steve Arnott in Line of Duty and Ewan Brodie in the beloved BBC show Monarch of the Glen. Some of his movies are Sweet Sixteen, The Wee Man, and Mary Queen of Scots. Compston is 5′ 8. Martin Compston turned 41 on May 8. Compston is a Celtic fan. The actor partied with Hoops players after they won the Premier Sports Cup Final in 2024. Martin Compston co-hosts the Restless Natives podcast with broadcaster Gordon Smart. The weekly podcast was launched in August 2022, where the duo set themselves 'missions', inspired by the 1985 Scottish film Restless Natives, where they plot new schemes for fun and laughs. The actor lives with his wife and son in Las Vegas. He also owns a flat in Greenock to be near his parents on trips back home. Norwegian Fling is a six-part BBC Scotland travel series in which Compston and Phil MacHugh retrace Norway's length, from Oslo to the Arctic Circle, on a 2,000-mile road trip. The pair dive into modern Norwegian culture, from roller-skiing and sky-jump zip-lining near Oslo to crowd-surfing at a Black Metal gig and getting up close with a wolf in the wild.
