Entertainment
Line of Duty star Martin Compston ‘kills off family and friends in his head’ to get himself into character while filming-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro
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Martin Compston has had to have some difficult daydreams to get into character for his often-intense series.
The Line of Duty star, who has also appeared in the likes of Our House and Vigil, has had some seriously intense scenes and stand-offs throughout his acting career, with everything on the line.
Now however, he is preparing to appear in new drama Mayflies – potentially his most devastating series yet.
Martin stars alongside actors Ashley Jensen of After Life fame and Doctor Who star Tony Curran in the drama, which explores questions around assisted dying.
Guaranteed to be an incredibly emotional watch, the series sees Martin’s character’s best friend Tully (Curran) reveal he is terminally ill.
Tully explains he does not want to go through chemotherapy or other invasive procedures and wants to end his life through assisted dying.
Mayflies is set to air at the end of this month, and Martin has now been sharing some insight into the series with potential audiences, and how the script and subject matter meant getting into character was a little different this time around.
Martin plays a man begging his terminally ill childhood friend not to go abroad for assisted dying in the devastating new series (Picture: BBC)
The cast is led by Doctor Who star Tony Curran, who plays terminally ill Tully (Picture: FilmMagic)
On Wednesday, the actor appeared onThe One Show where he said he was ‘proud’ of the new series but admitted the subject matter was tough.
Explaining that they tried to ‘show both sides’ of the argument for and against assisted dying, he said: ‘The question is so vast.
‘When you do the research, you come across horror stories of people who feel they have no option but to go hundreds of miles away from family to end their lives.’
‘It’s the most emotionally present I’ve ever been on a job,’ he explained.
Line of Duty star Martin says it’s the most ’emotionally present’ he’s ever been while filming (Picture: Getty Images for Stylist Magazine)
‘As an actor you’ve got all sorts of tools and mechanics to get you in motion.
‘I’ve killed off all the members of my family and friends in my head trying to get myself wound up. But with this, how good the script was, the wonderful cast led by Tony Curran… that really helped. I’m proud of it.’
The series was announced earlier this year and has been branded an ‘intimate and devastating portrait of male friendship’ by BBC Drama Commissioning Editor Gaynor Holmes.
Based on the novel of the same name by Andrew O’Hagan, the drama has been adapted by screenwriter Andrea Gibb, who previously adapted the acclaimed drama Elizabeth Is Missing.
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Mayflies will begin on BBC One on December 28.
The One Show airs weekdays from 7pm on BBC One
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
MORE : Martin Compston very almost missed Line of Duty audition until he got ‘nudge’ from co-star
MORE : Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar reunite to celebrate 10 years of Line of Duty
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Martin Compston has had to have some difficult daydreams to get into character for his often-intense series.
The Line of Duty star, who has also appeared in the likes of Our House and Vigil, has had some seriously intense scenes and stand-offs throughout his acting career, with everything on the line.
Now however, he is preparing to appear in new drama Mayflies – potentially his most devastating series yet.
Martin stars alongside actors Ashley Jensen of After Life fame and Doctor Who star Tony Curran in the drama, which explores questions around assisted dying.
Guaranteed to be an incredibly emotional watch, the series sees Martin’s character’s best friend Tully (Curran) reveal he is terminally ill.
Tully explains he does not want to go through chemotherapy or other invasive procedures and wants to end his life through assisted dying.
Mayflies is set to air at the end of this month, and Martin has now been sharing some insight into the series with potential audiences, and how the script and subject matter meant getting into character was a little different this time around.
Martin plays a man begging his terminally ill childhood friend not to go abroad for assisted dying in the devastating new series (Picture: BBC)
The cast is led by Doctor Who star Tony Curran, who plays terminally ill Tully (Picture: FilmMagic)
On Wednesday, the actor appeared onThe One Show where he said he was ‘proud’ of the new series but admitted the subject matter was tough.
Explaining that they tried to ‘show both sides’ of the argument for and against assisted dying, he said: ‘The question is so vast.
‘When you do the research, you come across horror stories of people who feel they have no option but to go hundreds of miles away from family to end their lives.’
‘It’s the most emotionally present I’ve ever been on a job,’ he explained.
Line of Duty star Martin says it’s the most ’emotionally present’ he’s ever been while filming (Picture: Getty Images for Stylist Magazine)
‘As an actor you’ve got all sorts of tools and mechanics to get you in motion.
‘I’ve killed off all the members of my family and friends in my head trying to get myself wound up. But with this, how good the script was, the wonderful cast led by Tony Curran… that really helped. I’m proud of it.’
The series was announced earlier this year and has been branded an ‘intimate and devastating portrait of male friendship’ by BBC Drama Commissioning Editor Gaynor Holmes.
Based on the novel of the same name by Andrew O’Hagan, the drama has been adapted by screenwriter Andrea Gibb, who previously adapted the acclaimed drama Elizabeth Is Missing.
More: Trending
Mayflies will begin on BBC One on December 28.
The One Show airs weekdays from 7pm on BBC One
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
MORE : Martin Compston very almost missed Line of Duty audition until he got ‘nudge’ from co-star
MORE : Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar reunite to celebrate 10 years of Line of Duty
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