Martin Compston Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Movies & TV Shows, Parents, Brother

Martin Compston is a Scottish actor and former professional footballer who rose to prominence through his debut role in Ken Loach’s film Sweet Sixteen.

That performance earned him early acclaim and opened doors into a lasting acting career.

Over time, he became widely known for playing Detective Inspector Steve Arnott in the BBC crime drama Line of Duty.

Profile

• Full name: Martin Compston
• Date of birth: May 8, 1984
• Age: 41 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland
• State of origin: Inverclyde
• Nationality: Scottish
• Profession: Actor, former professional footballer
• Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Brown
• Parents: Jim Compston (father), Liz Compston (mother)
• Siblings: Barry Compston (older brother)
• Spouse: Tianna Chanel Flynn (married June 19, 2016)
• Children: One son (name not publicly disclosed)
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Catholic upbringing
• Ethnicity: White Scottish
• Net worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Martin Compston is now 41 and was born on May 8, 1984, in Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland.

He grew up as the younger of two sons in a family with strong Scottish roots.

His parents, Jim and Liz Compston, raised him in a Catholic household.

His older brother, Barry, played a significant role in his early years.

He attended St Columba’s High School in the nearby town of Gourock.

During his school years, he showed athletic talent and spent time as a youth footballer with Aberdeen.

After his fifth year in secondary school, he left formal education to pursue his ambitions in sports and later acting.

Personal Life

In 2016, Martin Compston married Tianna Chanel Flynn, an American actress.

The two first met in Los Angeles, where Tianna was working at the time.

They maintain a relatively private life despite both being in the public eye.

The couple have one son, born around 2019, though his name has not been publicly disclosed.

Career

Martin Compston’s acting career began in an unconventional way: he had no formal training when he was cast in Sweet Sixteen (2002), directed by Ken Loach.

That role was unexpected but transformative, giving him broad recognition.

Before acting, he had a brief stint as a professional footballer.

He played as a youth with Aberdeen and later signed with Greenock Morton, making two first-team appearances in the 2001–02 season.

After that, he played in junior football before transitioning fully into acting.

Following Sweet Sixteen, he took on roles in Monarch of the Glen as Ewan Brodie, which built his television credentials.

He appeared in films such as Red Road, True North, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Soulboy, The Wee Man, and Piggy.

His breakthrough in television came in 2012 when he was cast as DS Steve Arnott in Line of Duty.

That role became widely recognized and sustained his profile over multiple seasons.

He also starred in The Nest, Traces, Vigil, and Our House.

In recent years, he continued diversifying his roles, such as being cast as Fulmer Hamilton in The Rig and starring in Our House and other crime dramas.

Awards

• 2002 – British Independent Film Awards, Most Promising Newcomer (for Sweet Sixteen)
• Scottish BAFTA nomination (for Red Road)

Net Worth

Martin Compston’s estimated net worth is about $5 million.

His income sources include earnings from television and film roles, residuals, and public appearances.

Social Media

• Instagram: @mrmartincompston

Filmography

• Sweet Sixteen (2002)
• Niceland (Population. 1.000.002) (2004)
• Tickets (2005)
• Wild Country (2005)
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
• Red Road (2006)
• True North (2006)
• Doomsday (2008)
• Freakdog (2008)
• The Damned United (2009)
• The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)
• Soulboy (2010)
• Donkeys (2010)
• 7 Lives (2011)
• Four (2011)
• How to Stop Being a Loser (2011)
• When the Lights Went Out (2012)
• Sister (2012)
• Piggy (2012)
• The Wee Man (released 2013)
• Filth (2013)
• Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
• The Rig (2023)
• Fear (2025)
• Red Eye (TBA)
• The Revenge Club (TBA)