Josh Duhamel reveals why he traded Hollywood for…
He’s having fun with the tough life.
Josh Duhamel left Los Angeles to live off-grid in the distant Minnesota home he’s been working on for over 15 years — and he has no regrets.
“It was about this land out there,” Duhamel, 52, solely told The Post while selling his latest film, “London Calling.”
Josh Duhamel having fun with his distant property in the Minnesota wilderness. @joshduhamel/Instagram
Josh Duhamel selling his latest film, “London Calling.”
“I knew I wanted to be out away from everything in the woods and build sort of my own little oasis, in a way. And it’s taken a long time,” he continued. “It was a lot of pickaxes and shovels in the beginning.”
The change in surroundings wasn’t always straightforward for the “Ransom Canyon” star, however, as he was without basic utilities early in the method.
“It was no electricity or water for a while,” the “Las Vegas” alum shared. “Then we dug wells. Then we built a sink in the kitchen, and we built the bathroom, and it became a little bit less rugged and a little bit more normalized, at least to what we’re used to.”
Josh Duhamel selling his latest film, “London Calling.”
Josh Duhamel chatting about his distant Minnesota property and his new film, “London Calling.”
“So it’s been a process, and I really appreciated the process, because we got to make sure we got enough wood and water and food because we’re 40 miles from anything and we’re deep in the woods,” he continued. “So we got to make sure that we’re prepared.”
Duhamel first purchased his Minnesota property shortly before tying the knot with Fergie, 50, in 2009.
The former couple welcomed one baby together, son Axl Jack, 12, before separating in Sept. 2017 after eight years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized in November 2019.
In 2022, the “All My Children” alum married model Audra Mari. Duhamel and the previous Fargo, North Dakota, magnificence queen welcomed their son, Shepherd Lawrence, in Jan. 2024.
Josh Duhamel with his spouse, Audra Mari, and sons Axl and Shepherd. Josh Duhamel/Instagram
Josh Duhamel in the Minnesota wilderness. @joshduhamel/Instagram
The “Transformers” star admitted that he’s fallen for the Minnesota wilderness and the thought of residing exterior the glitz and glamour confines of LA with his spouse and two sons.
“I think that was what I weirdly fell in love with,” Duhamel said. “It became about just the basics, hand-to-mouth, making sure that I could take care of everybody, and we had enough just to stay alive out there, especially in the winter.”
But after 15 years, Duhamel’s Minnesota property has turn into less of a project and more of a “normalized” home.
Josh Duhamel revealed that his off-grid home is “40 miles from anything.” @bobcatcompany/Instagram
“So that was the beginning,” he shared. “Now it’s pretty. We’ve got all the amenities that we need. I still try to keep it a bit like it used to be. But it’s nice to have a warm shower and a toilet.”
“We’re not using outhouses anymore, thank God,” Duhamel joked.
As for “London Calling,” the actor opened up about what led him to select a position where he portrays a employed gun in an motion comedy – particularly after 25 years of largely cleaning soap operas, rom-coms and Westerns.
Josh Duhamel enjoyable with his youngest son, Shepherd. joshduhamel/Instagram
The “Ransom Canyon” star on his off-grid Minnesota property. @joshduhamel/Instagram
“I think that when you start, you just kind of take whatever you can get and try to make the most of whatever opportunity,” he told The Post concerning the trajectory of his profession as an actor. “And that was what I did when I first began, I just tried to take whatever little window of alternative I had and just leap through it.“
“It’s been a really fun 25 years,” Duhamel continued. “I learned a lot over the years. You make decisions differently based on family, based on location, based on director, based on script.”
He went on to reveal the 2 most important issues he now appears to be like for when selecting roles.
Josh Duhamel on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” in Burbank, California, on September 17, 2025. Getty Images
Jeremy Ray Taylor and Josh Duhamel in a still from “London Calling.” Quiver Distribution
“More than anything, if you don’t have a great script, I try to stay away from it because it’s hard to make a good movie if you don’t have a good script,” Duhamel told The Post. “And I just try to surround myself, whether it’s as an actor or a director, with the best talent and not just talent, but good people.”
He added: “Life is too short not to work with really good, easy people who don’t take themselves too seriously.”
The Allan Ungar-directed flick, which hit theaters Sept. 19, stars Duhamel as Tommy Ward, a hitman and British ex-pat hiding out in LA after unintentionally killing the relative of London’s largest crime lord.
Josh Duhamel at the Los Angeles premiere of “London Calling” on September 15, 2025. ZUMAPRESS.com
Rick Hoffman and Josh Duhamel in a still from “London Calling.” Quiver Distribution
Duhamel said the position compelled him “to get [his] ass in shape,” and opened up about how being healthy for an action-heavy movie like “London Calling” was “definitely a motivator.”
“I think that’s what the fun part about this is,” he said. “Every job is a little bit different. Sometimes you got to be really, really ready. Sometimes you don’t. This business forces you to kind of keep your body, your health and everything else in check.”
“I think that this is a movie that really required that because there was a lot of action, a lot of running, a lot of wrestling around, a lot of flying around in the dirt,” he explained. “Which I love. This is why I got into this business.”
We present you with the trending topics. Get the best latest Entertainment news and content on our web site daily.