Patrick Dempsey says he loves being a sexual "fantasy figure"

Grays Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey has revealed his delight at being such a hit with the show's female audience and that that he's been nicknamed 'Dr. McDreamy'.

Dempsey, 41, said: "'Grey's Anatomy' is a major show and my character is a fantasy figure for lots of ladies who tune in. I don't mind though, I think it's great, you can't complain about being dubbed 'Dr. McDreamy'."

Patrick, who came second in People magazine's 2007 'Sexiest Man Alive' list, insists that he doesn't even mind people referring to the ugly phase he went through at the beginning of his acting career.

He added: "It's funny to think about how people label you. My career stalled and stuttered for some time, because of the way I was type-cast. So I see my slow rise to fame as a classic Hollywood tale."