live for action scenes..they make me feel like James Bond

He's used to pages of tricky dialogue in his most famous role but he loves tackling action scenes too, such as in a new role as a security officer at the American embassy

- BY RICK FULTON

TALENT: Cast of Revenge Club, out on Paramount+ next month. From left, Chaneil Kular, Douglas Henshall, Sharon Rooney, Meera Syal, Martin, and Aimée-Ffion Edwards

MARTIN Compston has admitted he “lives for” action scenes so he can believe he’s James Bond, just for a few minutes.

The 41-year-old actor loves to do his own stunts in shows such as Line of Duty, The Rig and the second series of prime-time smash Red Eye, which starts on New Year's Day.

He describes stunts firing guns or getting into fistfights like “grownup cops and robbers”.

The Greenock actor said: “I live for all that - a bump on the head and getting up and getting on with it. You have to commit to it.”

Martin, who during the last series of Line of Duty in 2021 was the bookies’ second favourite to replace Daniel Craig as 007, added: “I've never done a ton of theatre because you can be quite self-conscious, but there's something between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ I feel that’s our time.

“A camera doesn't shout at you. You can completely switch off and believe in that moment.

“In that time you can be James Bond. You can be the ultimate spy.”

Fans were delighted when the BBC revealed filming for a seventh series of Line of Duty will begin in the spring. It will see Martin don Steve Arnott’s waistcoat again alongside Vicky McClure as Kate Fleming and Adrian Dunbar as Ted Hastings.

Something of a workaholic, Martin, who now lives with his family in Las Vegas, is finishing off the year in grand style.

He stars in divorce thriller The Revenge Club for Paramount+, which starts on December 12. The next day he co-hosts the annual Hoolie at the Glasgow Hydro before Red Eye starts on January 1.

In that ITV series he plays Clay Brody, a regional security officer for the American embassy, in the second offering of the high-octane show starring Jing Lusi which last year was watched by eight million viewers.