Julian McMahon on Why CBS' "FBI: Most Wanted" Was the Right Move

For McMahon best known for his sevenyear stint as playboy plastic surgeon Christian Troy on FXamp8217s NipTuck 20032010 the decision to trade designer suits for an FBI uniform and commit to another ongoing series hinged on two words Dick Wolf amp160amp8220When you get something from Dick Wolf itamp8217s not something you just casually look atamp8221 he noted during a recent interview with MediaVillage amp160amp8220Just look at what heamp8217s done and on top of that from a personal standpoint heamp8217s been doing it for a long time amp160He knows how to run a production amp160He starts at one point and finishes at another amp160Iamp8217ve been on a lot of productions where things go a little haywire and the next thing youamp8217re there for 20 hours a dayamp8220Itamp8217s tough keeping that kind of schedule goingamp8221 he continued amp160amp8220So that was another big part of it amp160I also get along really well with the guys at CBS so there was a combination of a lot of things that contributed to my desire to do thisamp8221After limiting work life to California for the better part of the last 18 yearsamp160and raising his daughter McMahon was also looking for a change of scenery amp160amp8220I was looking for something stable in doing FBI something that would maybe take me out of California for a little whileamp8221 he explained amp160amp8220Raising my daughter put a restriction on where I worked and I was kind of just looking to get out amp160I mean I love California and I could spend the rest of my life here but Iamp8217ve spent most of my life here and wanted to do something differentamp8221New York where the show is shot provided that desired change of scenery amp160It also provided the Australian born actor with a reminder of his early days of working in the US on daytime television amp160amp8220At the time it wasnamp8217t easy to get a work permit in the United States or come here as an Australian actoramp8221 he recalled amp160amp8220I missed out on a couple of films because I couldnamp8217t get a permit so getting a threeyear contract was a gift and a great opportunity amp160I remember my first scene on Another World was coming out of a pool in my speedo at the Cory mansion where I played the gardener amp160But the whole experience was pretty magical amp160I got to go to New York Cityamp160 Itamp8217s a crazy city and being back there reminded me of thatamp8221McMahon also told me that being a part of an ensemble cast one that includes Kellan Lutz and Roxy Sternberg was appealingamp160 Initially he thought his workload would be lighteramp160 amp8220But it hasnamp8217t quite worked out that wayamp8221 he laughedamp160 amp8220I read the pilot and thought great amp160Now everyone has had an episode but my character is pretty prominent throughout amp160Yes itamp8217s a lot of work but I gotta tell you I love it amp160Jess is a great character and super fun to play amp160When you get the opportunity to slip into shoes that arenamp8217t yours like I did with Christian Troy NipTuck and even with Cole TurnerBalthazaramp160on Charmed a show I was only supposed to do six episodes of and ended up staying three years itamp8217s a lot of fun because youamp8217re being consistently challengedamp8221With another hit show to his credit and having carved out that family time McMahon finds himself in a good place amp160amp8220I think Iamp8217ve become more centeredamp8221 he reflected amp160amp8220When I picked up the Christian Troy character I was a little crazier and was looking to push things around a little bit amp160I got to do that in the form of a TV show but it also took a lot out of me amp160So I took some time off recentered and thought about what I wanted to do That was raising my daughter which was more important to me than anything elseamp8221Growing up as the son of Sir William McMahon a former Australian prime minister the family assumed Julian might follow in his fatheramp8217s political footsteps so entering showbiz came as a shock amp160amp8220Iamp8217ve always said I was never a good enough actor to go into politicsamp8221 he said amp160amp8220My family was pretty conservative and when I decided to enter this business they were like amp8216You have to be kiddingamp8217 amp160It wasnamp8217t an easy transition amp160There was a struggle between my parents and myself and the background I came fromamp8220Iamp8217m finding Iamp8217m coming back to my family history as I get older more so than years agoamp8221 he continued amp160amp8220I think as individuals we sort of push away from our parents because we want to be individuals and develop a sensibility of your own amp160I feel that with my daughter amp160She doesnamp8217t want me around all the time and needs to become her own personamp8221Heamp8217d even be okay with his daughter following in her fatheramp8217s footsteps amp160amp8220Itamp8217s interesting with my daughteramp8221 he offered in closing amp160amp8220Sheamp8217s been so against acting but she recently visited the set and thought it was really fun amp160I started thinking amp8216Okay amp823039amp160 With acting like politics you really have to love it amp160Thereamp8217s no time off being a politician and in a way thatamp8217s similar to working on our show because thereamp8217s a lot of stuff going onamp8221FBI Most Wanted is telecast Tuesdays at 10 pm on CBSClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

Julian McMahon on Why CBS' "FBI: Most Wanted" Was the Right Move

Author

Publish date

Channel

Archived in

Steve Gidlow

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

More Videos:

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

Julian McMahon on Why CBS' "FBI: Most Wanted" Was the Right Move

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Steve Gidlow

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

Cookies