By Mallory Mattingly
For Hollywood star Josh Duhamel, balancing his Hollywood career and family life has gotten “tougher and tougher,” but he knows what’s most important.
“I have to constantly remind myself how important it is — the most important thing I do — is be a good husband and a good father. So yeah, it’s a balance, but it’s been a good life,” Duhamel told Fox News Digital.
Duhamel live in Minnesota on a homestead 40 minutes from civilization.
“Part of the reason I built my place out in Minnesota, deep in the woods, is it’s removed from everything,” he told Parade in April of his off-the-grid lifestyle. “The closest store is 40 miles away. Once we get there, it’s really about everybody taking care of each other — making memories, spending time with family and friends. You really get a chance to get back to the basics. You’re not consumed by all these other distractions. When you’re out there, it’s really about having fun, making sure everybody’s warm, everybody’s got food and water.”
The environment allows him to raise his kids away from the pressures of LA.
“My son, Axl, my 11-year-old…LA, there’s a lot of good things about LA, but it’s good for him to get his hands dirty and come out into the woods and help dad with whatever,” he explained.
The actor praised his wife Audra Mari, with whom he shares his youngest son Shepherd, 1, for her support and enthusiasm for their unusual way of life.
“Audra is just one of those girls who we get each other. She’s also from North Dakota, she’s a very practical thinker, she’s great with the kids, she’s an amazing wife, she’s beautiful, and she doesn’t get caught up in all the BS you know, she’s very straight, and I love that about her,” the RANSOM CANYON star said.
Physically, he found that his escape to Minnesota dropped his blood pressure by 30 points.
“It really got me back in touch,” he said of building a home away from the stresses of the world. “There’s something about it that fulfills the soul in a lot of ways.”
His slower way of living also strengthened his relationship with his parents.
“I’ve become a lot closer to my own parents because of this place, which has been interesting. My dad absolutely loves coming out there to hang out. And we’ve spent more time together in these last five, 10 years than we ever did growing up. I’m much closer to my dad,” Duhamel revealed. “My mom now loves coming out there. It’s become a real, central hub for all of us.”
Duhamel’s quiet Midwest life certainly helps him prioritize the important things in life.
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