Line of Duty star Martin Compston has shared the excruciating moment he had to shield his mother’s eyes during the premiere of his new Prime Video drama, Fear.
The Scottish actor, 40, had proudly invited his parents to the premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival last week, only to be hit with a sudden wave of dread when he realised a rather intimate scene was about to play out on screen.
‘The fear’ sets in
Speaking on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X on Thursday, Compston recounted the toe-curling ordeal, admitting that while it was a joy to return home for the screening, he had completely forgotten about some of the steamy scenes in the drama.
“Being on home turf was great. But you come home – I hadn’t been home since just before Christmas – got there, everybody’s kind of feeling… You get the feeling when you’re in a good show, you know? Everybody’s on good form, you get to see all the crew and all that again, home fans building up.”
“I saw my mum and dad there. I hadn’t seen them in the flesh for like a couple of months, big hugs. And you sit down, and you’re sitting between your mum and dad, and you’re like, ‘Ah, this is amazing!’ And then you just get the fear.”
That fear quickly turned into full-blown panic when he realised what was coming.
“When I start walking down the stairs in the dressing gown, I completely forgot what scene was coming, and just having to turn around at your mum and going, ‘Please shut your eyes for the next five minutes.’”
“And she’s like, ‘Why? Why?’ And I was like, ‘Just shut your eyes. I can’t explain it.’ And that is miserable. That is genuinely… Yeah, that was a tough five minutes. And you’re just like, ‘Just end it, man!’ And you see the faces you’re pulling…”
A dark and twisting thriller
Fear is a psychological thriller based on Dirk Kurbjuweit’s novel of the same name. The gripping three-part series, which landed on Prime Video on Tuesday, follows Compston’s character Martyn and his wife Rebecca, played by Vigil star Anjli Mohindra.
The couple relocate from London to Glasgow with their two young children, seeking a fresh start. However, their hopes for a peaceful new life are shattered when they encounter their unsettling new neighbour, Jan, played by House of the Dragon actor Solly McLeod.
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As Jan’s behaviour becomes increasingly disturbing, Martyn and Rebecca find themselves drawn into a chilling psychological battle that threatens their family’s safety.
The series, penned by Mick Ford and directed by The Other Boleyn Girl’s Justin Chadwick, also features a stellar supporting cast, including Scottish acting legend James Cosmo, Maureen Beattie and Anneika Rose.
A career of diverse roles
Compston, best known for his role as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in Line of Duty, has consistently taken on challenging roles, from gritty crime dramas to psychological thrillers. His latest performance in Fear showcases yet another layer of his acting prowess.
While his parents might have been left a little red-faced at the premiere, fans of the actor are praising the show’s gripping storyline and Compston’s compelling performance.
Despite the awkwardness of watching himself in intimate scenes with his mum in the audience, Compston can rest assured that Fear is already making waves in the world of psychological drama. Whether his parents will be watching the rest of the series at home remains to be seen!
