Minka Kelly Opens Up About Life Beyond Hollywood: “I Can Be a Scrub Tech Again”

The Ransom Canyon star reveals she’s seriously considered returning to her first career as a surgical nurse, finding comfort and confidence in the skills that grounded her before fame.

Minka Kelly Says She’s Considered Leaving Hollywood for Her ‘Backup’ Profession ‘Many Times’

Minka Kelly may be riding high with her newest Netflix role, but the Friday Night Lights alum says she still keeps one foot firmly planted in the real world — scrubs and all.

Appearing on Today with Jenna & Friends on Tuesday, April 22, the 44-year-old actress opened up about her thoughts on stepping away from the spotlight and returning to her roots as a surgical scrub nurse. When co-host Andy Cohen asked if she ever felt like Hollywood was done with her, Kelly didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve thought that many times,” she admitted candidly. “Of course! I’ve thought that [after] every job that finishes.”

The actress, known for her grounded demeanor, shared that when roles go quiet, she often thinks, “Okay, this is it. I had a good run. And that’s okay, everything’s okay. I have my backup. I can be a scrub tech again.”

Kelly revealed that she “seriously” contemplates returning to the operating room “all the time,” describing it as a source of strength and self-assurance. “It’s a thing that gives me a bit of confidence,” she told Jenna Bush Hager and Cohen. “You know this isn’t the whole world,” she added, gesturing toward a promotional image of her latest project. “So the rejection that you get being an actor is sort of balanced out for me, and you can go, ‘But I’m good at this. I know I’m good at this.’”

Her passion for surgical work is evident. “I loved it so much,” she said. “It’s really good to feel like you’re good at something.”

Though the thought of returning to medicine remains in her mind, Kelly is firmly in the saddle of her acting career — currently starring in Ransom Canyon, Netflix’s new Western series adapted from Jodi Thomas’ beloved book series. She plays Quinn, a character navigating both community conflict and rekindled romance with Josh Duhamel’s Staten in a rugged Texas town.

Kelly’s chemistry with Duhamel, she shared, was instant. “We got together just to see what our chemistry would be like before we started shooting. And immediately, it was just like butter,” she recalled. “I’m like, ‘Oh, this guy, we have such an easy exchange.’ I felt so safe with him.”

Their professional synergy made filming a joy. “I remember texting him right afterwards going, ‘I’m so excited I get to do this with you. I feel so safe with you.’ And that really just continued throughout the series. I just had a really great solid partner through this. And he’s so amazing.”

For now, Minka Kelly is embracing her Hollywood chapter, but she remains grounded in the knowledge that she has another life waiting — one of surgical precision and heartfelt purpose — if and when she ever chooses to return to it.