SCOTTISH actor Martin Compston has said he believes the Scottish independence movement is in need of a “refresh” – and he’s optimistic youngsters will help pave the way forward.
Compston, known for his turns in hit shows like Line of Duty, spoke with The National ahead of the release of the second season of Amazon Prime’s The Rig.
Filmed at FirstStage studios in Edinburgh, it tells the story of the crew of the Kinlock Bravo oil rig who are left isolated in the North Sea as supernatural forces start to take hold.
Compston is known for his support of the independence movement, having attended a Believe In Scotland Rally earlier this year.
The actor previously listed the 2014 referendum as one of the 10 moments that changed his life and 10 years on he says it’s still important to him even if he has taken a step back from engaging in discourse online.
“I still believe in it (independence), I’ve made a conscious decision, I think especially online and stuff now people are just so f****** angry and shouting at each other and you can waste a lot of energy arguing with people who, really, aren’t going to have their minds changed one way or another,” he said.
“I’m trying to put that energy into my family and my work. But no, I still firmly believe in independence.”
While there’s no denying the entertainment value of a show like The Rig, both Compston and his co-star Iain Glen agree that it isn’t shy of touching on issues in the real world.
“When you see The Rig, when you see an oil-rich nation who has probably the greatest green energy revolution possible at our fingertips and you see the energy prices in Scotland, you’re thinking how are we paying these,” he says.
Glen, who many will know for his role as Jorah Mormont in Game of Thrones, added: “You’re a bit of a tart as an actor, you read it, it is really valid and there’s an important underlying message which you own as an actor.
“If you did a series without that, you wouldn’t talk about it but you’re gifted it and proud to be part of it and focus on what is the probably the most important current issue in terms of what we’re doing to the planet.”
Returning to independence, Compston (below) remains optimistic for the future, having spoken with The National prior to polling showing Yes in the lead for the first time in four years.
He said: “I still believe the same things but when I first became involved some people almost saw us as a fringe movement.
“But now it’s mainstream so I don’t feel the need to be at the forefront of it anymore you know.
“It’s taken on a new life and it’s for the younger generation coming through and for them to sort of lead the charge.
“I do believe it needs a bit of a refresh but I think that’ll come from the youth and their energy.”
Learning Gaelic
Compston previously revealed that he had been learning Gaelic for a project he was working on and told The National it was something he had kept up with.
“What’s coffee in Gaelic,” asks co-star Glen, to which Compston laughs and easily replies with “cofaidh”.
He said: “I’m still doing bits of it and I do enjoy it because it’s in our history. It’s been downtrodden and frowned upon but it’s a part of our culture, we should be proud of it and it should be championed.”
The actor explained he is learning through a combination of Duolingo and with his friend and fluent Gaelic speaker Phil MacHugh – with whom Compston has worked with on a series of travel programmes.
“I did think though this is in me, it’ll come easy and does it f***,” he added, laughing.
It comes after the cast of the first-ever high-end Gaelic drama series was revealed by the BBC.
An t-Eilean (The Island) will be set in Lewis and Harris and will combine Gaelic with English.
Compston continue: “My in-laws are Irish. They all switch between Irish and English and it’s a beautiful thing, it’s effortless so it’s sad we don’t have that so much.”
