ShareThisBy TERRY MORROW
Julian McMahon turned 38 recently. But he couldn't wait for the day to celebrate.
A week before, he took a day for himself _ getting a massage, a manicure and a pedicure and drinking tea. He says it didn't matter to him when he honored the milestone. For him, "it's just a day anyway," he says.
On his birthday, as was the case for the last 10 of them, he was working. During this particular one, he devoted 12 hours shooting scenes on "Nip/Tuck" (returning for a new season 10 p.m., EDT/PDT, Tuesday, Sept. 5, FX), where he plays wayward plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Troy.
"You have to realize the party is not worth it right now," he says of why he didn't celebrate more. "I like coming to work and I like having that energy that you need to get through the day."
This certainly doesn't sounds like Dr. Troy, a notorious bed-hopper. Troy has the stamina to work hard during the day and play harder at night.
Unlike his TV character, McMahon, twice divorced and the father of a 6-year-old daughter with actress Brooke Burns, is learning to appreciate his life nowadays.
"Nip/Tuck" has solidified him as a bona fide television star and a cable TV sex symbol. Even Rosie O'Donnell, who'll be appearing on the show later this season, says McMahon is her newest crush.
"Well," he says modestly, "she has to say that. She's on set today."
The two had a love scene. He was naked. She was not, but O'Donnell says the prospect of being hot and heavy with McMahon made her nervous.
He finds humor in it. "I'm naked, and I am ready," he says laughing. "I've been doing push ups all morning."
McMahon is used to it. He's usually naked at least one scene every episode.
This is par for the course on "Nip/Tuck," which always raises the ire of conservative watchdog groups, and it's usually because of something Christian has done.
Several family friendly groups say the show is too racy, with its graphic sexually laced stories and graphic surgery scenes.
Diehard fans have different thoughts altogether, and they aren't shy about expressing them vividly.
"There's a guttural response to this show," he says. "People feel very connected. I get propositioned in many varied ways. I get everything from 'can you fix my wife's (breasts)?' to 'do you want to go home with me?' They are blatant. It breaks out everyone's naughtiness. It tweaks people I think."
When it comes to that, McMahon says, he does not seize the day. There's Christian Troy, the egomaniac party boy he plays, and then there's McMahon, the actor who just likes to have his work appreciated.
And that's where it ends.
"For me, it is always kind of gratifying," he says. "It's sort of says something about my work. I have a great passion for this business and for acting.
"Ultimately, I do it for people to see ... I (act) for people to enjoy in whatever ways they can."
