Ben McKenzie: 'Fatherhood is magical'

Actor Ben Mckenzie has branded fatherhood "pretty magical" after welcoming his first child with girlfriend Morena Baccarin.

The Gotham co-stars, who are known for trying to keep their personal lives private, became parents to daughter Frances Laiz Setta Schenkkan in March (16), and Ben admits he is really enjoying his first run at daddy duty.

However, the 37-year-old confesses life as a first-time father has been made relatively easy because the couple has hired both a night nurse and a daytime nanny to help take care of the tot as the actors juggle their busy schedules.

"We're finally sleeping...," Ben remarked on U.S. morning show Live! With Kelly.

"We hired a night nurse... It's so great, you gotta do it. They stay up with the baby and the first couple of weeks when the baby is really up all the time, they're basically (comforting them). They wake up my lady to get her to feed the baby, but between (feeding) times, when the baby can be cranky and fussy, they're on it."

Despite having the extra help around the house, Ben insists he is a hands-on dad who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

"Diapers have been a challenge, but I'm embracing it!" he smiled. "It's pretty magical."

Prior to the baby's birth, the former The O.C. star admitted he was anxious about impending fatherhood.

"It feels good," he told U.S. breakfast show Today in late February (16). "It's a little terrifying but it's very exciting."

The couple began dating last summer (15), but didn't go public with the romance until Morena confirmed the relationship in court papers linked to her ongoing divorce and custody battle with her estranged husband, director and screenwriter Austin Chick - the father of her two-year-old son Julius. Austin filed to end the couple's four-year marriage in June, 2015.