Martin South was born in Reading, England. In his early twenties, he worked as a mural painter and guitar teacher. He trained as an actor at Morley College, one of the oldest adult education colleges in the country, and made his professional debut in an adaptation of 'Moll Flanders' at the Edinburgh Festival in 1983.  After only a few years, however, he succumbed to a long career in law and government.
 
Since returning to acting, Martin has worked extensively in London fringe theatre, including performances of plays by Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, Noel Coward, Terence Rattigan, Tom Stoppard, Alan Bennett, Jez Butterworth and Mike Bartlett. He recently appeared as O'Brien in Matthew Dunster's adaptation of Orwell's "1984".
 
Martin's most recent Shakespearean role was Caius Cassius in 2016's "Coverage", a new play drawing on "Julius Caesar". He can currently be seen dodging Martians in "The War of the Worlds - The Immersive Experience".