Seeing the cast of Netflix’s Ransom Canyon—including Josh Duhamel, Garrett Wareing, and Minka Kelly—skillfully riding horses is already impressive. However, it turns out Minka Kelly went above and beyond for her character, Quinn, by learning to play classical piano! This wasn’t just for show; Quinn is portrayed as an incredibly talented pianist, even having received an offer from the prestigious New York Philharmonic. Minka’s dedication meant she didn’t want to merely pretend to play. To achieve this authenticity, she enlisted the help of her partner, Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds, who assisted her in learning the instrument ahead of filming.
Kelly shared her enthusiasm for this new challenge on Instagram, calling it one of her favorite aspects of joining the show. “A lil piano I was learning and practicing for #RansomCanyon,” she posted, adding, “One of my favorite things about getting to play Quinn was that I’d have to learn to play the piano. Music written by our most brilliant composer, @jeff_cardoni.” This highlights her commitment to embodying Quinn’s musical prowess.
Her efforts paid off, as she now possesses the remarkable ability to learn songs by heart. Speaking to People, Minka revealed, “I learned while filming Ransom because I had to.” While she admits she “can’t read music,” her method is truly fascinating: “If I rehearse it and play it enough times… I’ll usually ask my partner to show me how it goes. And then he’ll show me where my hands go. Then I’ll just do it over and over again until I’ve memorized it.” This unique, hands-on approach allowed her to internalize the pieces. She even tackled some challenging classical compositions. “There’s a couple that we play in the house, Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies songs, that I love so much that I tried to learn, and I was able to do maybe the first half of it,” she explained, cautiously adding, “If it’s slow and simple enough, I’ll give it a whirl.” Minka Kelly’s dedication to truly embodying her character’s talent showcases her commitment to her craft and adds another layer of depth to her portrayal of Quinn in Ransom Canyon.
