Line of Duty's Martin Compston has trick to learning lines as he disguises Scottish accent
Fans always seem to be mind blown when they listen to Line of Duty's Martin Compston in interviews.
And that's because of his broad Scottish accent.
The actor, who plays DI Steve Arnott in the hit BBC show, hails from Greenock in Scotland, but plays the English AC-12 officer.
So when learning his lines, he has a little trick to help because he's "not naturally good" at accents.
Speaking on this Saturday's episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, Martin said: "It can be hard, that dialogue on its own would be hard anyway, throw the accent in there … the scene we did the other night, 30-pager, trying to juggle the accent at the same time.
"When we’re away from it for a long time, when I do that voice I can hear him, it’s like a costume."
The 36-year-old added that someone records his lines for him to listen to, continuing: “I walk about all day with him in my ears. It’s just graft.
"I'm not naturally good at accents. I need to work harder, which then makes me better because I’m not complacent with it.
"If you're in these scenes with these amazing actors, amazing guest stars, it’s intimidating enough without worrying about the accent. Speaking to the wife and stuff I’ll drop it, I very much stay in it (on set)."
He also described DI Arnott as “the overdressed w***** in the call centre”, adding: "He's the guy who is having all the office affairs and no-one knows how.
"He's sort of unlikeable but he’s obsessed with his job and doing the right thing."
Martin appeared on the show alongside his co-star Vicky McClure, who portrays DI Kate Fleming ahead of the series six finale airing on Sunday.
