Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 8, 2025 · Entertainment

Dannii Minogue's Revelations: Reflecting on Marriage to Tragic Actor Julian McMahon

Julian McMahon's first ex-wife Dannii Minogue coincidentally spoke out about their 18-month marriage five weeks before his tragic death, at age 56, following a secret cancer battle (pictured in 1994)

Dannii Minogue Spills Tea on Tragic Love Triangle with Late Actor Julian McMahon

In a shocking revelation, Dannii Minogue has finally opened up about her tumultuous 18-month marriage to Australian-American heartthrob Julian McMahon, just five weeks before his untimely death at the age of 56. The stunning Australian singer, actress, and TV personality's candid conversation on the How to Fail podcast shed light on their complicated relationship, which was marked by financial woes, infidelity, and family drama.

The sparks flew in 1990 when Minogue, then just a teenager, met McMahon while co-starring as Emma Jackson and Ben Lucini on the hit Australian soap opera Home and Away. Three years later, she enlisted the actor to play her boyfriend in her music videos for "This Is It" and "This Is the Way." Little did they know that their on-screen romance would soon become a real-life affair.

The Australian 53-year-old originally met the Australian-American hunk in 1990 while co-starring as Emma Jackson and Ben Lucini on the set of Seven Network soap opera, Home and Away (pictured in 1993)

However, Minogue's whirlwind romance with McMahon didn't sit well with his mother, Lady Sonia. The matriarch reportedly disapproved of her son's relationship with Minogue, fearing she'd bring politics into their lives – specifically the world dominated by her late husband Sir Billy, Australia's former Prime Minister. "She thought I was wanting to be part of that world and take, take, take from them," Minogue revealed on the podcast. "But it was the furthest thing from the truth."

Despite his mother's disapproval, McMahon was smitten with Minogue and proposed marriage in no time. The couple tied the knot, but their union began to unravel when McMahon moved to New York City to star in the NBC soap opera Another World. Minogue, who flew back and forth between London, struggled to cope with her husband's increasing distance.

"He was just very, very distant," Minogue confessed. "And I'd come back to the apartment, and there were people around that I didn't know... It was a wild time." The marriage continued to crumble, with McMahon eventually calling it quits due to his own personal demons – and financial struggles weren't helping either.

Three years later, Dannii (born Danielle) enlisted Julian to play her boyfriend in her music videos for This Is It and This Is the Way before art imitated life and they tied the knot

"I was paying for everything," Minogue revealed, her voice trembling. "And he was financially on his feet earning all of his money, keeping his money... So I was not only personally absolutely brokenhearted but I was broke." The singer admitted she had to take out a loan from her family just to survive, which further strained their relationship.

In the midst of this chaos, Minogue made headlines in 1995 for posing nude for the Australian edition of Playboy – a move that has since become infamous. "I should have been at that position where I could pick and choose stuff," she reflected on the experience. "And now I couldn't with anything... It was difficult."

Fast-forward to the present, Minogue has come out stronger from her tumultuous marriage. She's currently in a loving relationship with Swiss musician Adrian Newman – whom she met in 2014 – and is proud of the person she's become.

But Minogue never won over the approval of McMahon's late mother Lady Sonia (R, pictured in 2005), who didn't want her entering the political world dominated by his late father Sir Billy, the former Prime Minister of Australia

"I'm not that person anymore," Minogue declared. "I've got a toolbox now... It's nice to be able to look back now." The I Kissed a Boy consultant-host has also spoken about her past relationships, including a high-profile romance with Simon Cowell and a brief fling with F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve.

Tragically, McMahon passed away just last week after a secret battle with cancer. His third wife, Kelly Paniagua, paid tribute to the beloved actor in a statement: "With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer... His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible."

McMahon's passing has left fans and friends reeling. The actor is best remembered for his iconic roles in CBS' FBI franchise, The WB's Charmed, and FX's Nip/Tuck. He leaves behind a 25-year-old daughter, Madison Elizabeth McMahon, from his marriage to Brooke Burns.

The I Kissed a Boy consultant-host recalled on How to Fail podcast on May 27: 'She thought that I was wanting to be part of that world [and] that I was going to take, take, take from them'

In the wake of this devastating news, Minogue sent her condolences to McMahon's family, saying: "Wishing for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy... We are grateful for the memories."

Dannii continued: 'And it was the furthest thing from the truth and not what I wanted at all. So she made it very clear that I was not to be around and she didn't want me a part of anything. Yet Julian wanted me to be his wife'

Minogue added: 'I knew that their [mother-son] relationship there was a lot had gone on and he loved and adored her, but they were not close in many ways. So it was a wild time. I mean, it was a lot to take on' (pictured in 2005)

The marriage began falling apart after The Residence actor moved to New York City to star in NBC soap opera Another World while Dannii flew back and forth from London (pictured in 1993)

Minogue remembered: 'Things I saw in the apartment, there were people around that I didn't know, and he was just very very distant to the point that he called it off. But in the meantime, we'd run through all my money'

The Thinking 'Bout Us singer said Julian 'was financially on his feet earning all of his money, keeping his money' while she was 'paying for everything'

Dannii confessed: 'So I was not only personally absolutely brokenhearted but I was broke. I had no money in the bank. My family helped me out [with a loan] and then that was my job to heal my heart, to find some confidence in myself not being so stupid at choosing people'

In 1995 - the same year their divorce was finalized - Minogue needed money so badly she posed nude for the Australian edition of Playboy

The younger sister of Kylie Minogue explained: 'I should have been at that position where I could pick and choose stuff. And now I couldn't with anything. So that was that was difficult'

Dannii doesn't regret the 'dark and bleak' debacle because it gave her 'a toolbox' so she won't be 'that person' making 'those mistakes' in the future

Minogue - who's been dating Swiss musician Adrian Newman (L, pictured January 12) since 2014 - concluded: 'It's nice to be able to look back now. I'm with a gorgeous partner and I absolutely love him'