
While the stunning horsemanship displayed by Josh Duhamel, Garrett Wareing, and Minka Kelly in Netflix’s Ransom Canyon is certainly attention-grabbing, it’s Minka Kelly’s unexpected musical feat that truly stands out. For her role as Quinn, a character so musically gifted she garnered an offer from the New York Philharmonic, Kelly chose to go far beyond simply miming piano playing. Her commitment to authenticity led her to learn how to play classical piano, a challenging skill she acquired with the direct assistance of her partner, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, prior to stepping onto set.

Kelly expressed immense excitement about this aspect of her role. On Instagram, she shared a glimpse of her practice sessions, stating, “A lil piano I was learning and practicing for #RansomCanyon.” She emphasized that the opportunity to learn piano was a highlight of portraying Quinn, crediting the show’s brilliant composer, Jeff Cardoni, for the music. This personal investment in her character’s background speaks volumes about her dedication to her craft and adding genuine depth to Quinn.
What’s even more impressive is that Minka’s efforts allowed her to internalize and play songs from memory, despite not being able to read sheet music. “I learned while filming Ransom because I had to,” she told People. She elaborated on her unique learning process: “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 highlights the hands-on, collaborative way she approached the challenge. She even managed to learn parts of Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies—pieces known for their delicate beauty. “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 recounted, adding a humble caveat, “If it’s slow and simple enough, I’ll give it a whirl.” Minka Kelly’s dedication to mastering this new skill not only elevates her performance but also showcases her impressive ability to tackle complex challenges for her art.