Here's to the good life!
by Andrew Jacob

Julian McMahon is celebrating the fabulous changes that are taking place in his life. he has just landed a starring role as a tough homicide cop in America's new prime time Saturday night thriller Profiler. It is a dream job that could see the 27 year old become a leading Hollywood player, like Mel Gibson - if the series takes off.

The breakthrough comes just as he and Dannii Minogue have finally agreed on the details of a divorce settlement that will, at last, allow them to seek separately the happiness they failed to find in their brief marriage.

"It's all sorted, very much so," Julian says, sadness in his eyes.

"I'd really rather not say when the divorce will happen, or go into the small print of the arrangements - that's up to us - but it's amicable.

"Dannii is a wonderful person. I admire and love her very much and wish her success in everything she does. She's a very busy lady, and I'm a busy guy doing similar things, only on the other side of the planet. Just because our relationship didn't work out, doesn't mean we don't care for each other, or want the best for each other in the future."

If things don't' work out as planned for Julian, his six year contract with NBC will at least "pay the rent" on his Los Angeles home, hidden in the wooded canyon above the city's smog.

Until now, the hillside apartment has been Julian's refuge from the fame that came with his family heritage and "fairy tale" marriage to Dannii. As the only son of late Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon and his socialite wife Sonia, handsome Julian grew up in the spotlight.

But that does not mean he revels in the stories linking him with beauties such as film co-stars Crystal Atkins or Who Dares Wins reporter Tania Zaetta.

"I guess I'm a link-able guy, and it's been that way for a long, long time," says Julian, who hit the high life and the headlines on his latest trip home. "I can't help the family I was born into, and I'm very proud of it as well, but I'm suppose I really put myself up for grabs once I decided to get into this business. You can't be an actor and be successful and be anonymous.

"Most of the time, you have to wear the attention. When it's just me, I don't get too concerned - even if the publicity is slightly slanted or negative. When it affects family, friends or loved ones, then I get upset. There's been a lot of press about my lately, but I haven't said much. I've been leading a pretty anonymous life in LA over the past 12 months - studying drama, going out to auditions. Just a regular guy, you know."