Actor Martin Compston talks about splitting his time between Scotland and the US and his exciting new show
EVE MACDONALD
Actor Martin Compston might be best known for rooting out corruption within the police force as DS Steve Arnott in Line Of Duty, but his life now consists of rubbing shoulders with A-listers and winning TV awards.
However, there’s one person he credits everything to and that’s his wife Tianna Chanel Flynn. “She’s very supportive of me,” the 39-year-old tells us as he chats about splitting his time between Scotland and the US, where she is from.
“I’m very lucky to have a home in Vegas – but I’ve still got my place in Greenock,” he says. “I actually spend most of my time here [in Scotland] as my last four jobs have been in Scotland.”
Until now, Martin, who tied the knot with Tianna in 2016 at St Joseph’s Chapel in Greenock, has kept his cards firmly close to his chest when it comes to his private life.
But in our exclusive chat, he finally lifts the lid on why he will always have a special place in his heart for his hometown – despite departing for America eight years ago – and how he’s raising his son (who hasn’t been publicly named).
Martin says, “It’s not always easy splitting time between two places, especially now that we’ve got the wee one. It’s hard on him if we travel a lot. Even if my wife and son were to travel with me each time, I don’t get to see them much anyway.
“It can be tough but I’m also under no illusions about how lucky I am to be in this job.”
Martin appears to have well and truly adapted to Vegas living. “I’m really proud to be Scottish, it’s part of my core, part of my identity,” he says. “Whenever I come to the UK, I go out with my mates – life in Vegas is quiet.
“I always keep myself to myself and I’m usually at home with the wee fella. When I’m home, my wife is working away in New York or LA, then when I’m back here we’ll switch roles and she’ll look after him. But he does go to nursery in both places.”
Aside from parenting across the pond and continuing his career in Scotland, Martin also opens up about his exciting new BBC show, Norwegian Fling, that he stars in with best pal, Phil MacHugh. The documentary-style programme sees the dynamic duo reunite as they jump over the North Sea to Scotland’s nearest Scandi neighbour, Norway.
Martin and Phil first met years ago, bu
