"Julian McMahon: Dannii, Me, And New York"
by Stephanie Sloane

Julian McMahon's father Sir William was prime minister; his mother is Lady McMahon. So how did this one time law student wind up as an actor in an American TV series? Julian gives some of the credit to his wife Dannii Minogue. It was Dannii, in fact, who encouraged Julian to try his luck in the US.

"Here I was leaving a country where people wanted me and people knew me and I had a certain income, to go into a country where people don't (care)," he says. "Danielle was a big influence in my decision to leave. In a way, she told me to leave home."

The two met on the series Home and Away, and started dating soon after. Their union created quite a buzz. "Danielle is one of the most famous girls in Australia," Julian, 25, says of his wife, the sister of superstar Kylie.

"She was well known, a nd I was well known for my family. It's very difficult when you get involved as to how public you take your relationship. We tried to keep it private at first."

Humble at heart, Julian is grateful for the chance to work.

"I love acting," says the man who plays an idealistic botanist in the daytime soap Another World.

"I was saying to Danielle, 'I love this business. It's such wonderful business to be in.' The odds were so against me ever working in this business that it's like a dream come true. In my first week. I got an American Pepsi commercial. I got a lot of money and met al ot of great women, and I thought, 'Wow, this is the life'. "

Julian was 18 when, much to his family's chagrin, he dumped the books for life in the fast lane. After a year overseas, he nabbed a role on the TV series The Power, The Passion, even though, he admits, he had never had an acting lesson in his life.

"I don't know how I got the job because my audition sucked so badly," he laughs. " I didn't even know what I was doing. I only knew that when I finished saying my line, someone else was going to talk. But the producer of the show said he thought I had great potential. I worked with some wonderful veteran actors who I learned so much from every day."

The life of international television star is a far cry from Julian's sheltered upbringing as a prime minister's son, a lifestyle which he describes as a very high profile. "Lots of suits and important people. We lived in the Lodge and I was such a little brat."

"I was a very headstrong boy," he adds. That determined spirit helped Julian stick with his decision to become an actor -- even when his family wasn't completely behind the idea. "When I was in law school, (my parents) thought I was going to finish my degree," he explains. "But they sort of came around to the idea after I started getting so much work."

Since his father's death seven years ago, Julian has become a surrogate head of the household for older sister Melinda and younger sister Debbie. " I feel like the oldest now," he says. "They always come to me with their problems. But we're all so close in age and such great friends, any problem can be dealt with."

Although Australia is still his home, Julian has developed an affinity for New York City. "I love New York," he enthuses. " Every time I wake up in the morning, I look outside my window and I just stand there for five to ten minutes. It's incredible -- I stand on the balcony, freezing my butt off, watching the cars go by."

"The first time I came here, I didn't like it at all -- too many people. Now I even love the cold."

When he's not on Another World set, Julian doesn't lack for company. He may claim to be an "absolutely boring guy", but in reality, Julian loves being the life of the party. "I have a very large group of great friends," he explains.

According to Julian, kismet contributed to his success. "I believe in fate," he says. "You can uproot your destiny and change its route to a certain extent and master it. In this business, people don't like to use the word 'lucky', but I think I'm lucky."

Side note - Star struck -

Julian had the chance to meet one of his favorite actresses Holly Hunter, at the screening for the Piano. "Holly is an incredible actress," Julian says. "I met her at the opening of The Piano. I didn't know anything about the movie. I'm going to sound so ignorant because it was an Australian production directed by a New Zealander Jan Campion, whom I know. I went to the opening and I was having some photographs taken with a couple of different people. Somebody yelled, 'Over here', and someone else said, 'Will you come and take a photo with this person?' I walked over and said: "Hi, I'm Julian McMahon', an she said, "Hi, I'm Holly Hunter'. And I was like "Oh, my God, you're one of my favorite actresses in the world! What are you doing here?' And she's like, 'I'm in the movie.' -- She must have thought I was a total idiot."