Being a father is hardest role I’ve played, says The Nest’s Compston
HE has been hailed as one of Scotland’s most accomplished actors – and won plaudits for his latest role as a businessman desperate to be a father.
But Martin Compston has revealed his toughest role has been becoming a parent in real life.
The 35-year-old, from Greenock, Renfrewshire, and his wife Tianna Chanel Flynn, 29, who live in Las Vegas, recently welcomed their first baby.
Now the star has spoken about being a father for the first time, describing it as ‘terrifying’ and one of the ‘hardest’ things he has had to do.
And he admitted sleepless nights have left him exhausted, having trouble remembering lines while on set – and wanting to cry.
Yet it helped him get into the role of The Nest’s Dan who, with his partner Emily, played by Sophie Rundle, want for nothing in life but a child.
He told Red Magazine: ‘It [having a new-born baby] obviously informed this job. It couldn’t not. My character is supposed to be exhausted and delirious, and I thought, “Well, I’ll be living that!”
‘But there’s a difference between coming on set and going “I’m living this” and coming on set and not being able to remember your lines because you’re so tired you can’t see straight.
‘You’ve never felt exhaustion like it where you could cry.’
Mr Compston also revealed he made sure his family had extra support when he was away filming for eight months of the year. He said: ‘I saw friends be at their partners’ throats just because they are exhausted and I understand why now: It’s tiring and you need that support.
‘In Vegas we live five minutes away from my mother-in-law, and so when I’m gone she moves in with my wife. You need your mum around.’
The couple met at the Hudson hotel in Los Angeles, where Miss Flynn was a nightclub manager at the time.
They married at a chapel in Greenock four years ago and Miss Flynn was walked down the aisle by both her Irish father – a former soldier – and her American stepfather.