Martin Compston has revealed how a rigorous fitness regime helped prepare him for the action-packed demands of ITV’s hit thriller Red Eye, admitting his training “comes in handy for the fight scenes”.
The Line of Duty star has joined the cast for the show’s second series, stepping into the role of Regional Security Officer Brody, a high-ranking American Embassy official with a military background and a taste for high-pressure operations.
Mr Compston said he had been a fan of the first series long before landing a role himself, tuning in initially to support director Kieron Hawkes, a long-time friend and collaborator.
“I tuned in for Kieron – and became a big fan,” Mr Compston said. “I thought Lesley [Sharp], Jing [Lusi] and Richard [Armitage] were all terrific in series one.”
A rigorous fitness regime helped prepare Martin Compston for ITV’s hit thriller Red Eye
| ITV
The actor admitted returning to a primetime BBC-style audience was a major draw, describing the 9pm slot as “still the biggest in UK TV”.
“It feels great,” he said. “I’m quite fond of that 9pm slot. There’s nothing like feeling the whole country is watching with you. Red Eye is classic cops-and-robbers fun.
“I was genuinely giddy reading the scripts. Roles like this don’t come along often.”
Mr Compston’s character, Brody, is introduced as head of security at the American Embassy in London, a former British military figure tasked with keeping people safe in a fast-moving and increasingly dangerous environment.
Mr Compston had been a fan of the first series long before landing a role himself
| ITV
“He’s a bit of a man of mystery,” the actor explained. “He’s had a successful service career in the military and now runs a high-pressure operation where people’s safety is on his mind 24/7. He expects precision every day.”
A key dynamic in the new series is Brody’s tense relationship with DS Hana Li, played by Jing Lusi, with the pair sharing a fraught history that fuels on-screen conflict.
“They crossed paths early in their careers and clashed,” Mr Compston said. “They’re both quite alpha, both control freaks. Put two people like that together and you get fireworks.”
While the drama is heavy on suspense and conspiracy, he revealed the physical demands of the role were matched by intense preparation behind the scenes, something he credits to years of specialist training.
