Don’t try to classify Julian McMahon. He’s child brought up in a society family, who punctuates his conservation with fuck rather than full stops.
A rebellious schoolboy forced to repeat Year 10, but who finds enough focus to get into law school. A celebrity with an acute mistrust of the press , who keeps a stack of Australian Women’s Weekly magazines by his front door. An actor, whose father was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, yet admils to being naive about Hollywood politics. An ex-husbahd whose divorse is more amicable than his marriage. And a father, who plants a streamy kiss on the lips of his co-star Alyssa Milano in the hit TV series Charmed, then leavesthe set to change his daughter’s nappy.
When he sits down to brunch at a low key cafe in the Hollywood Hills wearing a checked shirt, jeans and stubble, it’s clear that he’s as casual as he is complex. From 9 to 5, McMahonas Cole Turner in Charmed, wreaks havoc among the Halliwells sisters, relising the chance to be a conflicted, love-struck demon. “One moment I’m thinking this is ridiculos, funny and stupid and the next it’s absolutely serious, dramatic, emotional, heavy and dark,” he says. To McMahon, Turner is realistic and complex, a seductive schemer, and possibly a bit like him. “I think actors use their characters to exorcise their demons. That’s the wonderful think about it – we have to play pretty deep and hard, so we’re going to expose all that kind of stuff.”
The American press describes him as “strapping”,”the Aussie Hottie”,”Prince Charming”, and “Australia’s JFK Jr”. But last year McMahon didn’t find an awful lot to smile about. Not only was he dealing with his separation from second wife, Baywatch babe Brooke Burns, but he also filming his most demanding season ever on Charmed.
"He was a total professional,” says the show’s executive producer Brad Kern. “If I didn’t have a personal relationship with him outside of the show, I woyld never have known what he was going through.”
Inwardly it was a test of his emotional strength. “Don’t think that I was just walking around going whoop-dee-fucking-doo. I had some tragic days personnaly, but I just didn’t let everyone know about it.”
He did, however, let his family and friends know about it and owns up to using them “wickedly” for long distance support sessions. “Nobody ever admits it to me, but I’m sure they were sick of it. My accountant was most sick of it, because my phone bills were so high!” When the production goes on location, McMahon literally stops traffic. It’s response that amuses Brad Kern; “When women realise who it is, they just stop their cars and get out. It cracks me up.” The actor seems genuinely nonplussed by this reaction. I don’t even notice. I think I’m kind of oblivious.”
Still. He finds the fame game both ridiculous and sublime. “A friend of mine saved three people’s lives and nobody’s going up to him saing, ‘Good job man, I think your work is fantastic.’ But it happens to me because I’m on a Tv show flying around pretending to be the devil!” Having been in the public eye for his entire life, he still can’t get used to it. “I don’t know why, I’m like this personal magnet , they follow me to the supermarket. I go for a walk with somebody, I get my photograph taken and the next thing I know she’s the love of my life!”
Get one of McMahon’s penetrating looks, and you understand instatly why he’s never had trouble attracting women. The problem is staying together. “OK, I’m not a raging banner for long term relationships, but they were successful in other ways. There’s not one person that I’ve had a relationship with that I don’t still feel for.” This propensity hasn’t gone unnoticed by the press. Brief marriages to Dannii Minoque and Brooke Burns, plus an affair with tabloid magnet Shannen Doherty prompted an American gossip magazine to comment, “His track record with overly busty babes spells trouble.” Is there any truth in that observation? “I don’t think there’s a man on the planet who doesn’t like breasts!” he laughs. “Anyhow, I don’t think they’re overly busty.” He credits this way with women to his late father, Sir William McMahon. “We grew up in a house full of women and I adore women and I adore women, even ones that were nasty to me.” His most succesful relationship is with Madison, his two-year-old daughter with Brooke Burns. When Madison arrives for our photo shoot after her afternoon nap, she spots her dad through sleepy eyes and barrels towards him, arms outstretched and squealing with delight. They clearly adore each other. “It’s so emotional and connected. Her spirit is so true, honest, alive and passionate without even knowing it. I just want to nurture that truth.
“As for Brooke, she’s just a trouper. I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful person to have a relationship and a baby with.” Which makes one wonder why they split up. “We were not a great married couple, that’s all there is to it, otherwise we’d still be together.” McMahon just doesn’t seem to be the marrying type. “I can’t stand the ownership idea. The idea of signing a legal document binding me forever – that really pisses me off. After 10 exhausting months of working, McMahon is ready for some tender loving care. “It’s nice to take two months off. My agent and manager say we’ve got a film, and I’m like fack off, don’t even call me!” When he isn’t working, McMahon spends time on his three acres in the Hollywood Hills, playing with Maddy, and tending the orchard. He also likes having a beer and going fishing withhis mates. As he’s about to leave, he says, “I love fishing, I’ll go fishing if you want to. I’ll go fishing if you want to. I don’t care what you wear, or how you take a piss!”