Doom to Bond?

Background:

"There is a wealth of Australian talent in Hollywood right now but we're all pretty busy and it's not as though we're best mates. When we see each other, we say hello." Julian McMahon

Australian actor Julian McMahon initially received recognition for his significant portrayal as Ben Lucini in the Aussie soap Home and Away (1989-1991). Due to his performance, he won a National Magazine award for Best Actor. In Hollywood, McMahon began capturing the attention of the public when he was cast as John Grant in the award-winning series Profiler (1996-2000).

The blue-eyed, brown-haired actor also gained worldwide fame after portraying cute demon Cole Turner in the popular series Charmed (2000-2003). Additionally, McMahon's character as playboy plastic surgeon Christian Troy in the Golden Globe winning series Nip/Tuck (2003) brought him Movieline's Breakthrough of the year '03.

On the wide screen, McMahon is also well remembered for playing roles in the movies Meet Market (2004, alongside Elizabeth Berkeley, Alan Tudyk and Aisha Tyler) and Fantastic Four (2005, played Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom). He is also scheduled to star in the upcoming thriller Prisoner (2005).

Off screen, 182 lbs McMahon is reportedly talking to producers about becoming the next James Bond. With his Australian, almost British accent, producers assured him (and other actors) are being considered for the role. As for his private life, McMahon is now single but has been married twice, first to actress Dannii Minogue and second to actress Brooke Burns. He was also romantically linked to ex-Charmed costar Shannen Doherty.

Model McMahon

Childhood and Family:

In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Julian Dana William McMahon was born on July 27, 1968. He is the son of Sir William McMahon (Australian Prime Minister 1971-1972; born on February 23, 1908; deceased on March 31, 1988) and Lady Sonia McMahon (born on July 27, 1968). The middle child of three, Julian has two sisters, Melinda (older) and Deborah (younger).

Unlike many actors, Julian didn't show any real interest in acting during his youth. After high school, Julian was briefly enrolled at the University of Sydney to study law but he immediately grew bored with his classes. He then tried his hand in modeling and subsequently appeared in several commercials. In 1987, Julian traveled around the world and modeled in places like Milan, New York, Rome, Paris and Los Angeles. By the time he returned to his native country to work in Levi Jean commercials, Julian began adding acting to his accomplishments.

As for his private life, 6' 3" inches tall Julian met actress Dannii Minogue (born on October 20, 1971) while they were filming Home and Away (1989). The couple married on January 2, 1994, but divorced in 1995. Julian then married actress Brooke Burns (born on March 16, 1978) on December 22, 1999, but that marriage also ended in divorce in 2001.

Julian, whose favorite song is "People are Strange" by The Doors, currently resides in Los Angeles with his only daughter Madison Elizabeth (born in 2001; mother Brooke Burns). In his free time, Julian enjoys such sports as surfing and biking as well as being an enthusiast of baseball, football and basketball. He also likes cooking (especially pastas, roasts and ethnic cuisine) and collecting classical books.

Home and Away

Career:

"I always look back on Home & Away with fondness, especially when I'm in the UK. But I had no idea what I was doing back then. I just fell into acting. It was only later that I became passionate about it." Julian McMahon

Bored with the campus life, Julian McMahon began a modeling career in some of the world's most prominent fashion arenas like Milan, Rome, Paris, New York and Los Angeles. Lured by Levi Jean commercials in his native country, McMahon subsequently made his professional acting debut by landing a starring role in the Aussie primetime drama The Power, The Passion (1989), portraying a prosperous inheritor named Kane Edmond.

After working for 18 months on the show, McMahon left the series and was next seen in Australia's Home and Away (1989-1991), where he starred with Guy Pearce, Heath Ledger, Martin Henderson, Naomi Watts and former wife Dannii Minogue. Through his bright performance as Ben Lucini, McMahon gained notice and was honored with a National Magazine award for Best Actor. With his success, McMahon departed law school in order to pursue acting professionally.

In 1992, he made a move to a feature film by playing the role of Mick Dooley in Exchange Lifeguards (aka Wet & Wild Summer), alongside Elliott Gould. He also appeared on stage performing in a musical version of "Love Letters" in Sydney and Melbourne as well as "Home and Away" in Britain.

With four years of acting experience in his pocket, McMahon then headed to Los Angeles to read for American projects. However, he found difficulty breaking into Hollywood due to his Australian accent. As soon as he dealt with that problem, McMahon won the role of Ian Rain in the daytime drama Another World (aka Another World: Bay City; 1992-1994).

In the year 1996, McMahon was cast as Michael Walsh in Magenta (1996) before portraying series regular John Grant in the award-winning NBC drama series Profiler (1996-2000). Commanding the screen with his role as a detective who joins the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force, McMahon was well-noticed by television audiences.

During his busy schedule on the series, McMahon also won a starring role as gentle Sheriff Hayes in the thriller In Quiet Night (aka You Belong to Me Forever; USA: TV title) in 1998. He also appeared as a guest star on the sitcom Will & Grace ("Where There's a Will, There's No Way").

By the time Profiler was cancelled in 2000, McMahon had received a big break portraying cute demon Cole Turner, who fell in love with one of the charming siblings, in WB's primetime drama Charmed (2000-2003). Though his character was originally planned to appear only in the third season, McMahon's impressive performance brought him back to the series until it was vanquished in the fifth season. Additionally, during his stint on Charmed, McMahon collected fans and soon became a household name.

While working on Charmed, McMahon was cast as George in director Michael Walker's psychological thriller Chasing Sleep (2000, starring Jeff Daniels). He also took a role in the USA Network movie Another Day (2001, played David, costarring with Charmed star Shannen Doherty).

After leaving Charmed in 2003, McMahon continued attracting the public's attention when he starred as playboy plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Troy in FX's drama series Nip/Tuck (2003). With his good looks and self-seeking character, McMahon received Movieline's Breakthrough of the year '03. Additionally, the series won a Golden Globe Award in 2005.

In 2004, McMahon returned to the silver screen when he starred alongside Elizabeth Berkeley, Alan Tudyk and Aisha Tyler in the independent movie Meet Market (2004, portrayed Hutch). Recently, he portrayed megalomaniac intelligent villain Dr. Victor Von Doom in Tim Story's fantasy action movie Fantastic Four (2005). The newly released film is adapted from the comic The Fantastic Four and also stars Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Chiklis, Jessica Alba and Chris Evans. McMahon will also play Derek Plato in the upcoming Prisoner (2005).

Awards:

- National Magazine: Best Actor, Home and Away, 1989