I Want Dannii to be Happy
by Cathy Griffin

Australian heart-throb Julian McMahon is staying home alone this Christmas and New Year -- unless you count the company of his two dogs, Orso and Zack. But don't jump to conclusions. The star of the US TV series Profiler won't be home alone for lack of invites.

'Oh man, I am just so paranoid about my house. They've decided to light up the Hollywood sign. This is so dangerous with so many surrounding trees, and with the fireworks and all, my dogs are going to freak!'

'I've hired extra security. It really upsets me that my New Year's Eve is being dictated by decisions made by local government for festivities that could jeopardize my home and holidays!'

Moving on from the chaos surrounding his holidays, Julian was surprised to learn his former wife Dannii Minogue has chosen New Years Eve to marry Formula One racing champion, Jacques Villeneuve.

'Oh, she is? No way!' a surprised Julian exclaims. ' Well then,' he adds, 'I'm excited for her. I hope she's a happy camper -- and I truly mean that.'

Julian only recently learnt Dannii was engaged when a journalist called him.

'Dannii and I haven't spoken in about 14 months,' he explains. 'There is no ill will between us. We've just been apart a very long time, living separate lives.

'There is no reason she should have called me or anything. The fact of the matter is, if you're not together, should you hope for the other person to be happy somewhere else in life? I say yes. I mean, that's what it's all about, right?'

'That's what any decent person would be coming from. Trying to make an obviously difficult moments easier,' he laughs softly, 'and I like to think I'm a half decent person.'

So what about his lady love, Brooke Burns?

Julian is a bit tight lipped about his relationship with the Baywatch beauty, saying only: 'At the moment, she lives in Hawaii and I live here.'

Julian politely refrains from commenting on rumors that he and Brooke have split up, and says her plans for Christmas will probably revolve around her family in Texas. But he adds: 'I don't want to make any comment on anything regarding her business until we've discussed it properly.'

While the embers of his off screen love life with Brooke appear to be dimming, his on screen romances couldn't be hotter, both on television and in his first major US Feature film.

When New Idea visited the set of Profiler just recently, it was obvious that Julian is treated as every bit the star, and he is as popular as he is respected.

In the show's fourth season Julian's role as Special Agent John Grant has been expanded to be more character driven. The episode being taped the day we were there sees Agent John Grant romantically involved with a woman who dies -- he is almost in every scene.

Also heating up this season is the addition of Jamie Luner to the series, formerly the sexy Lexi Sterling of Melrose Place. And there is some serious sexual tension between the two characters.

Julian says: ' Jamie's character is great fuel for my character. We don't really like each other, but there's some history between us that she won't admit. So the whole time, there's this whole underlying subtext of us digging at each other with all kinds of sexual innuendoes and tension.'

Julian is also psyched about wrapping up his first feature film co-starring with Jeff Daniels.

'I auditioned for the role almost a year ago. I wanted the part badly, but when I didn't hear anything back, I thought it wasn't meant to be and just moved on. Secretly, I was really bummed about it, because I felt this was such a great part for me. Then, three months ago, the producers called me back and said they wanted me for the
part. I was excited beyond belief!'

Without giving to much of the plot away, Julian says: ' I play a gym instructor who is quite child-like, and I have an affair with Jeff Daniel's character's wife. It's really dark and scary movie.'

Julian's continuing success in the US seems likely to confirm the land of show biz as his permanent home. ' I never say permanent about anything. Your life can change in one moment. But I definitely feel there is a place here for me, professionally.

'While I deeply love my homeland, I feel more like I can be who I want to be here. The need and drive to be successful in this place is really important to me, and this place really pumps you up for that. I like living here.'

Any spare time Julian has, he loves to spend scouring markets for the right ingredients to satisfy his passion for cooking in his spectacular Hollywood home.

'Oh yeah, I love to cook,' he reveals. 'I've mastered Italian and Thai and when the weather warms up, I am going to conquer sushi.'