When Josh Duhamel stepped into the role of Staten Kirkland in Netflix’s Western drama “Ransom Canyon,” he found that the character’s rugged lifestyle felt surprisingly familiar. Unlike many actors who need extensive preparation to understand the challenges of rural living, Duhamel was able to draw directly from his own experiences. His years spent embracing a quieter, more isolated way of life in the wilderness gave him a natural connection to the role and helped him capture the toughness and independence required of the seasoned rancher he portrays.

Duhamel recently explained that preparing for the character required much less adjustment than expected because many aspects of Staten’s world already existed in his own life. During a July 21 appearance on CBS Mornings, the actor, 53, spoke about how his background and personal lifestyle helped him step into the role almost immediately. Although he admitted that he is not particularly experienced with horseback riding — despite his character frequently being seen on horseback throughout the series — he said that his upbringing in North Dakota and his current life at a remote Minnesota cabin gave him a strong understanding of the environment.

“Growing up in North Dakota, it’s everywhere. It’s all around us,” Duhamel shared when discussing the ranch lifestyle featured in the series. He explained that the culture, land, and traditions connected to rural living were familiar parts of his childhood. Beyond his early years, his own property in Minnesota has allowed him to continue experiencing a similar way of life, one built around independence, hard work, and maintaining the land.

Duhamel described his cabin as a place that reflects many of the same qualities found in ranch living. While he does not own horses or cattle like his character, he has spent years caring for large amounts of property and learning practical skills that come with maintaining a rural home.

“It’s a cabin, there’s a lot of property, there’s a lot of land we gotta take care of,” he explained. “So I kind of live this life anyway in a lot of ways. I don’t have horses and cattle, but I do have tractors and all the equipment and stuff.”

That personal connection became even more meaningful because of the timing of the project. Duhamel recalled that when creator April Blair first approached him about “Ransom Canyon” several years earlier, he was already immersed in the kind of lifestyle that matched the show’s themes. At the time, he was spending time at his cabin, enjoying the slower pace and reconnecting with the outdoors, which made the idea of portraying a character rooted in that world especially appealing.

He said Blair’s introduction of the series came at exactly the right moment because he was already feeling drawn toward a story centered on nature, resilience, and a simpler existence. Being surrounded by the wilderness while discussing the project helped him immediately understand the atmosphere and emotional foundation of the character.

Outside of acting, Duhamel has often spoken about his desire to spend more time away from the entertainment industry’s constant demands. Although he enjoys his career and continues to take on major film and television projects, he has shared that he values the opportunity to step away from Hollywood and return to a more hands-on lifestyle.

The actor previously told PEOPLE that he felt a strong desire to reconnect with practical skills and everyday tasks that are often overlooked in modern life. For him, living at his Minnesota property represents a chance to build, repair, create, and handle responsibilities with his own hands rather than relying entirely on technology or convenience.

Duhamel originally purchased an empty piece of land located about an hour and a half from Fargo, North Dakota, more than a decade ago. Over time, he transformed the undeveloped property into a rustic cabin retreat, gradually adding more space and expanding the land around it. The remote lakeside location eventually became a place where he could escape the busy schedule of acting and reconnect with the environment.

For a long period, the property had very few modern comforts. Duhamel has referred to it as his “doomsday cabin” because of its isolated nature and its emphasis on self-sufficiency. The cabin originally lacked electricity, running water, and many of the conveniences found in traditional homes, requiring him to adapt and develop new skills.

That experience became an important source of inspiration for his portrayal of Staten Kirkland. The challenges of maintaining a remote property gave him firsthand knowledge of the patience, determination, and physical effort associated with living close to the land. Those experiences allowed him to bring a sense of authenticity to a character whose identity is deeply connected to survival, responsibility, and the demands of rural life.

Duhamel has said that his connection to this lifestyle is about more than simply owning a cabin. It represents a return to his roots and a way of preparing himself and his family for a more grounded existence in an increasingly technology-driven world.

The actor’s personal life has also expanded in recent years. He and his wife, Audra Mari, welcomed their second child together in May. The couple shares a young son, Shepherd, while Duhamel is also father to his 12-year-old son, Axl, whom he shares with his former wife, singer Fergie.

As he continues balancing fatherhood, acting, and his love for rural living, Duhamel’s real-life experiences remain closely connected to the roles he chooses. In the case of “Ransom Canyon,” his years spent building a life away from the spotlight gave him the perfect foundation to portray a character defined by strength, independence, and a deep connection to the land.