Dancin' and Romancin'
By Patrice Fedgeon

Meet the man who says he has everything -- and the 'angel' he credits as a major part of it. Just three years ago Profiler star Julian McMahon was a shattered man. Although he had established a name for himself after a successful stint on the popular US TV soap Another World, it had come at a cost. His fairy tale marriage to Dannii Minogue had come to an end despite the couple's best efforts to maintain their long-distance relationship.
So Julian threw himself into his work and it has certainly paid dividends -- in a way he could have only dreamed about.
As one of only three original stars of the hit prime time series, Profiler, on the US network NBC ( and on the Seven network in Australia), Julian has hit the jackpot. Profiler has just been picked up for a fourth series -- which means the show will now be syndicated.
Does this make Julian the wealthiest Australian on a US TV series, as well as the most successful?
'I wish!' he says laughing. 'It's without a doubt more money...' But he claims he's hardly likely to retire on the proceeds.
'Even if I was, I wouldn't want t just sit on my butt for the next 50 years,' he adds in his new found American drawl.
'Sometimes I almost feel like a foreigner when I come back here. It's such a different life,' the handsome 30 year old actor confesses.
He wishes he could see his family -- his mother, Lady Sonia McMahon, and his sisters Debbie and Melinda, more often. But home is now very much the stunning residence he owns in Hollywood Hills.
Despite spending every available spare moment with his beautiful blonde Baywatch girlfriend Brooke Burns -- a long tall Texan with a body to die for -- Julian lives alone.
'I've got a beautiful girlfriend whom I love and adore, a great place where I live and I love my work. Life can't get much better. Or if it can, I'll let you know,' he says, allowing himself a wry grin.
When Julian's father former Prime Minister Sir William McMahon died in 1988, Julian found himself the surrogate head of the household -- he was the one his sisters Melinda and Debbie came to with their problems. And despite living halfway across the other side of the world, he clearly still takes that role to heart.
Melinda, Julian's elder sister, is now married and living in London. But on his latest trip home he and Brooke spent a few special days catching up with his younger sister, Debbie, at her home in Salamander Bay, north of Newcastle.
When Melinda married last Christmas, Debbie was nowhere to be seen. She said later she didn't even know the wedding was taking place.
'I don't' read all that kind of stuff,' Julian says, dismissively. 'Because if stuff is hurtful I get angry.'
Debbie was clearly delighted to have a few days with Brooke and Julian as house guests.
'I prayed to God that Julian would find an angel to guide him toward the light and she is the one,' she says. ' Brooke is a beautiful, beautiful girl and very spiritual.'
Julian smiles. ' That makes me nervous -- no that Brooke is an angel; there's no doubt about that. But I'm not sure about the light.'
'No, really that's very sweet of her. Debbie is a beautiful person.'
Brooke nods.
'She has such a sweet heart and such a beautiful spirit. We got along really well and had a lovely, relaxed few days.'
So is the family rift over?
'I don't know. You'd have to talk to them about that,' Julian replies.
'As far as I'm concerned, Debbie and I hadn't seen each other for a while and the main reason for that was simply location. It's the same thing with Mum. I just don't get to see my family as much as I'd like.
'I've seen more of Melinda because she's been over to the States more frequently. Maybe she doesn't mind spending time on a plane. I know I mind if I spend four hours on one.'
Brooke reacts quickly. 'You'd better not. You've got a lot of five hour flights coming up,' she says, laughing.
Brooke starts filming the next series of Baywatch in Oahu, Hawaii, next month.
'One minute it was Avalon, then San Diego, then Hawaii,' she says. 'It was going to be March, then May -- and it was looking perfect. Julian had a two and a half month break before Profiler started filming again so we were both going to come out (to Sydney).'
'I was planning all these little weekend vacations away in the mountains,' Julian says. 'Then next thing we heard they were looking at filming in Queensland.'
'Then I just had to hold my tongue.'
Finally it was to be Hawaii and they would not start shooting until July.
'I said since we had made plans to come to Australia, why didn't we still go -- and make it a holiday,' Brooke explains.
'And it's been a blast. But I'm exhausted. Julian wanted me to experience everything Australian and meet his friends -- just the 200 closest to him!'
Brooke is looking forward to the new season of Baywatch.
'I like change and this is like a new adventure. We've got new costumes -- we're going to be in yellow swimsuits instead of the read and its not so far that I can't plan a few weekend hops back to LA.
'And Hawaii's not a bad place to have Julian come visit. It's fun and romantic,' she says happily.
Already there is one visitor who is planning to spend some time with Brooke in Hawaii -- Lady Sonia McMahon.
'Yeah, Brooke and Mum have decided, they're going to hang out in Hawaii,' Julian remarks.
'We have to drag Julian across then,' Brooke says with a smile.
'Oh yeah? I haven't been invited yet,' he replies with mock indignation.
It seems Lady Sonia has given the nod to her son's latest love.
'They get on like a house on fire,' Julian confirms. 'Its kind of scary. I get left behind. All of a sudden I have become the driver while they have a jolly good time.'
Brooke flashes a broad smile. 'She's so-o-o lovely. We've had a great time together.'
Brooke and Julian have known each other for just a year but they say they've been' together-together' for a little more than six months. In the beginning it was just a case of going together because their publicists suggested they would make a good looking couple.
'When my publicist first told me, I though: "Well, it's a business thing thank God. He'll probably turn out to be an arrogant..." Brooke says giggling, adding that she once swore she'd never get involved with an actor.
'There's nothing secure about actors and I'm kind of a nest person. I like to have my home and know where I'm centered
So what's so different about Julian?
'What's not nice about him?' she says, stroking his cheek.
Julian still has three years of his NBC contract to complete and Brooke is in the second of five years with Baywatch.
'I never planned to be in this industry,' she says. 'I don't have a grasp on my career like Julian. Working to him is really important. My career definitely comes second to my relationship.'