Plastic Fantastic

The latest hit show on US television is all beautiful women, big breasts and steamy encounters; Julian McMahon is fitting right in...

A shiny scalpel slashes flesh. A butt cheek is pulled back and an implant stuffed in. Fatty fluids spray across an operating theatre.

This is all in a day's work for plastic surgeons Christian Troy and Sean McNamara in the runaway US hit drama Nip/Tuck, the show that places self-transformation under a glaringly harsh spotlight. If you like Six Feet Under and The Sopranos, Nip/Tuck is guaranteed to be your next TV addiction.

And it's 35-year-old Julian McMahon's gusto-filled performance as Troy thats really got tongues wagging, not to mention female lips quivering.

Having paid his dues in soaps like Home and Away, the Sydney-born actor has seen his A-list stock soar with meaty roles in the hit US shows Profiler and Charmed. But it's in his new role as the morally-challenged doctor - who lures women into his bed then on to his operating table - that he's allowed to shine in all his piercing green-eyed glory.

Like his character, Julian is a connoisseur of beautiful women.

The former Mr Dannii Minogue (their 1994 marriage - and 1995 divorce - sparked a media frenzy) was also married to Baywatch actress Brooke Burns for just over two years and had been linked to bad-girl Shannen Doherty.

So, as an expert, what does he really think about women's bodies?

"Ah," he purrs, "I'm definitely a breasts man... breasts, legs, ass.

I'm a big fan of the whole package really." And on the subject of surgery, real or fake breasts? "It depends on the job. If the skin becomes so stretched that it's barely containing the implant, then that's obviously not going to work. But," he whispers smoothly, " a good job can really work."

So what would he do if his girlfriend decided she could do with a dose of surgical enhancement? "Honestly, it's not my call. That's such a personal issue that I think it would have to be her decision. But I like the idea of individual beauty - don't flaws just add to the beauty of imperfection?" Great in theory, but in practice his ex-wife, Dannii, has made no attempt to hide her non-God-given assets. Quizzed about his past relationships, Julian says: "Have you ever met any of them? If you had you'd see that beauty is just one thing they have in common. Beauty is great, but a bubbly personality really gets my attention."

Julian's had a healthy respect for women from an early age. "I grew up in a house full of women and was taught to appreciate them. I can enjoy the beauty of a woman but I don't feel like I have to jump on her!" He continues, "I've seen some amazing beauties on my promotional tour of the States. I'm also partial to the Cuban-Latino thing," he adds before enthusing on the merits of J.Lo by quoting the lines of Sir Mixalot's '90s rap hit Baby Got Back: "I like big butts and I cannot lie."

Do women come on to him? "Last night a blonde tried to pick me up." Did she succeed? "No. If I meet you in a bar, I'm not going to try to close the deal that night. I'm thinking I might want to see you again."

Julian McMahon's an advocate of natural beauty, but won't rule out surgery for himself in the future because, "I'm not there yet, so how can I know?" And before he goes, he tells me he agrees with his character's words: that a nose job can be better than any mood enhancer, because, "Sometimes people just need to feel good."