JAMES BOND - NIP/TUCK STAR IN 'FINAL TWO' TO PLAY BOND

NIP/TUCK actor JULIAN McMAHON is competing against one other unnamed actor to become the next JAMES BOND.

The Australian-born star of the TV cosmetic surgery drama will find out in the next few months if he has been chosen to follow in PIERCE BROSNAN's footsteps as the next 007 in the hugely successful spy-series.

The other contender is believed to be British actor CLIVE OWEN - who is tipped to win this year's Best Supporting Actor OSCAR for his role as JULIA ROBERTS' husband in CLOSER.

The 36-year-old says, "I'm a big James Bond fan. I met the producers for a final audition.

"They told me to expect a decision in a couple of months and they said it was between me and one other person. It's going to a very nervous wait."