COVERT AFFAIRS -- "Communication Breakdown" -- Pictured: (l-r) Liane Balaban as Natasha Petrovna, Christopher Gorham as Auggie Anderson -- Photo by: Kerry Hayes/USA Network

The news of Christopher Gorham appearing shirtless in Covert Affairs next week is nearly everywhere. He’s taken on a hottie image as Auggie Anderson on the TV show, which is different than the type of roles he’s had in the past.

“It’s the unfortunate side effect of actually showing people what we film,” he says of those topless photos. “Auggie is shirtless a couple of times in the episode. You meet a couple of his romantic partners and he gets into a fight. So, it’s full.”

Gorham is often cast as the nerdie guy, most notably as Henry Grubstick, who was the love interested of Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) on Ugly Betty.

Covert Affairs (Tuesdays, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network) is changing all that and as a result, Gorham has beefed up his body. The actor began a rigorous routine to make Auggie look physically authentic.

“I spent more than my fair share in the gym,” he laughs. “That really started because of the research I was doing for Auggie. Auggie comes from Special Forces and I went online and looked up the physical requirements for those guys and knew that I had my work cut out for me.”

It’s paid off, which should sit well with all the fans waiting to check him out - in high definition.

Posted by Mari Cartel