Famous American actor Josh Duhamel has chosen to leave Hollywood life to build a simpler, quieter life in the heart of Minnesota's nature.
Known for his roles in successful films like Transformers , Duhamel confessed in an interview with Parade that the decision to live in a rather modest, isolated house in the woods was not just a whim, but a deep need for peace of mind.
“One of the reasons I built my house in Minnesota, deep in the woods, is because it’s far from everything,” he said. “The nearest store is 40 miles away. There, life is about taking care of each other, making memories, and spending time with family and friends.”
He shares this lifestyle with his wife, Audra Mari, their 1-year-old son, Shepherd, and his 11-year-old son, Axl, from his marriage to singer Fergie. For Josh, this life is not just an "escape" from Hollywood , but a way to return to the values ??that shaped him since childhood: nature, community, and a connection to the land.
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In fact, the actor spent 15 years working to build his own house, from the ground up to the smallest details. At one point, he was even forced to wash dishes in a nearby lake until the basic infrastructure was completed.
“It brought me closer to the essence of life. There’s something about this lifestyle that fills your soul in so many ways,” he says. “Being in touch with the land, living without the unnecessary luxuries of fame, helps me focus on what really matters.”
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Josh's passion for nature stems from his childhood in North Dakota, where he grew up riding horses and spending time outdoors. Today, on his property in Minnesota, he says he feels the same joy driving a tractor or working outside.
"I'm always doing something. It's like a big [archery] for me," he added.
He said he is very happy with the way he is raising his children.
“My son will remember this place for the rest of his life. He's not on his iPad when we're there, he's playing soccer in the sand, he's on the boat with me, or he's following me into the woods. And my little one will have the same experience. I hope to leave this place to them one day, to share with their children. It's not about luxury. It's about family. It's about legacy.”
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Josh Duhamel began his career in the early 2000s, gaining fame with the role of Leo du Pres in the series " All My Children" , for which he also won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2002. But the role that made him internationally known was that of Captain William Lennox in the Transformers film series (2007–2011), directed by Michael Bay.
