Minka Kelly advocated for equal pay on show Ransom Canyon; here’s all that you need to know

Actress Minka Kelly is making headlines not just for her performance in Ransom Canyon, but for standing her ground when it came to fair pay. Starring alongside Josh Duhamel in the Western drama, Kelly made it clear from the start that she wouldn’t settle for less as the show’s second lead.
The series follows Quinn (Kelly) and Staten (Duhamel), two longtime acquaintances who are forced to confront buried emotions while chaos unfolds in their Texas hometown. But behind the scenes, Kelly took a stand for equality when negotiating her contract.
According to a report by Deadline, the 44-year-old actress asked for her salary to match that of her co-star Duhamel, 52, after being offered the role. While ultimately didn’t match the salaries exactly, they did respond by significantly increasing Kelly’s pay to reduce the gap.
Speaking after the show’s release, Kelly acknowledged the streamer’s efforts in a positive light. “I didn’t have to fight very hard,” she told the outlet. “They sort of made that easy.”
She went on to praise the platform for its progressive approach, adding, “I think that’s probably one of the best things about working with Netflix, is that they’re very pro that. I feel really lucky to get to work with a company that does care about that.”
Kelly’s stance highlights the ongoing conversation around pay equity in Hollywood, particularly for women in leading roles. While the battle for equal compensation continues industry-wide, her experience on Ransom Canyon offers a glimpse of progress — and sets a powerful example for others in the business.