Lady Sonia McMahon, the former mother-in-law of Dannii Minogue, has died at the age of 77.
Sonia McMahon was married to Australian Prime Minister Billy McMahon. They were the parents of actor Julian McMahon, the star of the hit TV series Nip/Tuck.Julian McMahon was married to Dannii Minogue for a short period from 1994-1995. He appeared in the music videos for Dannii’s ‘This Is It’ and ‘This Is The Way’ singles.
Lady Sonia McMahon vocally disapproved of the marriage of Dannii to her son Julian despite her own alleged questionable background.
In 2007, Lady McMahon spoke out to deny published reports that her husband Billy was gay and that her 23-year old marriage was a sham. The Sydney Morning Herald ran the story on the 19th October, 2007.
“Bill was a terrific husband in every way and a great dad,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Before me, he went out with a lot of women. He was a workaholic and could be a little lax in the wooing department, but he was heterosexual."
William McMahon served as the 20th Prime Minister of Australia. The 57-year old politician married 32-year old “Sydney socialite” Sonia Rachel Hopkins in 1965. He became Prime Minister in March 1971 and was voted out of office in December 1972.
William McMahon was knighted in 1977 and Sonia became lady Sonia.
It was well known that Sonia had little time for Dannii, preferring someone more socially acceptable for her son.
At Julian and Dannii’s wedding she is reported to have refused to have herself photographed for the media with the bride and groom.
Sonia McMahon died in St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney on Friday April 2 after a long battle with cancer.
