"Julian's very sexy medicine."
by Ivor Davis

Julian's very sexy medicine. His steamy new series is a step up the big time ladder.

The outrageous new TV series Nip/Tuck brings us Aussie actor Julian McMahon as Dr Christian Troy, an amoral sex addict who has no qualms about sleeping with his patients, either before or after he has provided them with new breasts.

He's the Don Juan of plastic surgery- a slick Miami base surgeon who lusts after his partner's wife (played by Joely Richardson) And he'll do anything for money- right up to giving a makeover to a Colombian drug lord who has a terrifying past.

"Its the best role I've ever had in my whole life" says Julian with undisguised glee " I love to play a horrific character and still have the audience actually rooting for him"

"With Troy I can explore so many parts of his humanity and personality. There are moments when he can be extremely brutal but there are moments when he's extremely touching and vulnerable."

"I know part of me is there and part of me relates to him. A lot of his bravado comes from the insecurity he's had throughout most of his life. So I draw on my own life.

While he does identify with the surgeon there are some subtle differences he insists" I'm not as openly manipulative although I think we all manipulate each other constantly in life. Let's face it Dr Troy faces it constantly. He's probably the most brash and honest person I've ever come across. A guy who has the ability to say what's on his mind. However there are lots of things he does that I wouldn't do."

This is the biggest chance the 35 year old son of a former prime minister, the late Sir William McMahon has had in Hollywood to date. A regular spot as a cop on Profiler led to his role as the mysterious lawyer Cole Turner in Charmed, but being the co-star of this steamy new series is definitely a step higher up the big time ladder.

Dr Troy's partner Dr Sean McNamara (played by Dylan Walsh) is the good –guy surgeon who wants to help those who can't afford plastic surgery. But when Julian's character is on screen it is hard to concentrate on anyone else. And Julian hopes Dr Troy will make him a household name in the US, as the series pushes the envelope further than any work he's done.

The show couldn't have come at a better time. His career seemed to be stalling- his private life was a bit of a mess. After a collapsed marriage to Dannii Minogue he went to Hollywood played eh field then met his beautiful ex-wife Brooke burns, who gave him a daughter Madison, now three.

But Julian's wayward eye led to an affair with Charmed co-star. Shannen Doherty and his marriage collapsed two years ago. By the time Shannen's charms faded, Julian had little to show for his life in Hollywood to date except his daughter.

"Now you could say I'm footloose and fancy free" says Julian flashing his killer smile.

But he's much rather rave about Nip/Tuck "It’s the most brilliant script I've ever read" he says of the show that has some graphic sex scenes showing a naked-and very fit- Julian bedding beautiful women left, right and center. This is Sex and the City with a scalpel.

Julian says he had to fight harder than he's ever done in his career to land the role of the damaged Dr Troy. "I read the script two days after I left Charmed. I called my manager and told him "I've got to get on this thing-I'll take any role."

"I had to prove that I was right for the part. It was a fantastic role, there were a lot of famous guys who wanted it and I had to fight really hard for it."