GORAN VISNJIC

July 4, 2001Jul 4, 2001, 11:00 PM GMT+1

Replacing George Clooney was a critical task for the producers of ER, but they had a secret weapon: Goran Visnjic. In fact it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Goran has actually helped to increase the popularity of the show.

The rugged 28-year-old Croatian’s first big break came in British film Welcome to Sarajevo, about ITV reporter Michael Nicholson’s experiences during the Bosnian war . The movie was shown at the Cannes film festival, garnering Goran an American talent agent who secured him roles in The Peacemaker with George Clooney, Practical Magic with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, and Committed with Heather Graham.

He was also spotted by Madonna who described him as the sexiest male working today and kissed him in her Power Of Goodbye Video.

Then came the part of Dr Luka Kovac in ER and the rest, as they say, is history.

Goran, as ER’s Dr Kovac you are now considered the sexiest doctor on TV. How does that feel?

“I don’t like to talk about being sexy, or having charisma. I’m even embarrassed to say these words. I didn’t choose this profession to show off my body. People forget that an actor’s chief weapons are his eyes and his voice. You don’t need to expose the rest.”

Kovac is haunted by the war in Croatia. Are his memories yours?

“Fortunately, nothing bad happened to me in the war. My family and friends are alive. But I knew of some horrible stories, and the writers made them part of my character in the show.”

Has your country rebounded from this devastating experience?

"I go there every summer and its wonderful to see that my countrymen have rebuilt almost everything that was destroyed. Last summer there were a lot of tourists in Dubrovnik enjoying its beauty. It made me very happy."

You have been married to Ivana for a couple of years. How did you meet?

“It’s a very simple story. She was in the same bar one night. I thought she was cute. The next thing I know I’m married. Well, not that fast but I’m too shy to go into details, so I’ll just add that I love her very much.”

As a child, did you dream of becoming an actor?

“I was a huge fan of TV shows, especially science fiction. I remember watching Battlestar Galactica and wanting to be a crew member on the spaceship. I also enjoyed two British shows: 'Allo 'Allo and The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.”

Is being a celebrity everything you dreamed it would be?

“Through the years I have observed that material things and fame aren’t as glamorous, or as wonderful, as they appear from a distance. I’m making more money than I have ever made. I can buy things I want, but I don’t need a lot of things to be happy.”