Josh Duhamel is opening up like never before about the joys, struggles and honest realities of being a dad — and his words about ex-wife Fergie might surprise you.
The actor, who now juggles fatherhood with a blended family after moving on with Audra Mari, has been reflecting on what it means to truly show up as a parent. And it all started with a movie role that hit a little too close to home.
Keep scrolling for Duhamel’s quotes about fatherhood:
Josh Duhamel’s Film Role Sparked Real-Life Reflection
Duhamel’s role in the movie London Calling turned out to be more than just another acting gig. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly ahead of the film’s September 2025 theatrical release, Duhamel opened up about how the part forced him to take a hard look at his own life as a father.
“It was fun to look at some of the things that I could even do better as a dad,” Duhamel told Us.
After a high-profile marriage and subsequent divorce from Fergie, Josh Duhamel sparked a low-key romance with now-wife Audra Mari. “Everyone told me that after you get married you feel different,” Mari exclusively gushed to Us Weekly in September 2022. “To be honest, I never really believed them and I thought it would feel the same […]
He didn’t shy away from the tough stuff either, admitting that the demands of Hollywood weigh on his conscience.
“I work a lot, and I often have a lot of guilt about not being there as often as I could be,” he added. “So I try to maybe overcompensate or do things to be there often.”
Josh Duhamel Praises Ex-Wife Fergie as a Wife
If there’s one thing Duhamel has been remarkably consistent about over the years, it’s his respect for Fergie as the mother of their son, Axl Jack, who was born in August 2013. Across multiple interviews and platforms, he has gone out of his way to praise his ex-wife’s dedication to their child.
In an E! News interview, Duhamel called Fergie a “great mom,” adding, “[Coparenting] is going really well. All we want is the best for our son, so it’s a bit of a juggling act, but we’re both grown-ups who can handle a lot. And he’s happy. That’s the main thing.”
He continued singing her praises on a March 2026 episode of “The Skinny Confidential” podcast, where Duhamel reflected further on Fergie’s character.
“Fergie is also very wholesome, believe it or not. Especially since she sort of stepped away from it all,” he said. “She’s a great mom. Very kind, very nonconfrontational, thank God. We have a good relationship.”
Fergie and ex-husband Josh Duhamel’s son, Axl Jack, is growing up before our eyes as he reaches double digits. “To my caring, funny, outgoing, loving, smart, talkative, creative superhero enthusiast,” Fergie (real name Stacy Ferguson), 48, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, August 29. “Happy 10th birthday punky!!! I love you Axl Jack 🎂🎂.” Alongside Fergie’s […]
Then, during his appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show in March 2026, Duhamel doubled down once more.
“But you know, Fergie is a very normal person, at the end of the day. A good mom. We have a great relationship,” he said.
Look Back at Josh Duhamel and Fergie’s Relationship
Duhamel and Fergie called it quits in 2017 after eight years of marriage, announcing the separation in a joint statement. Their divorce was finalized in November 2019.
“We are just making it happen,” the actress said during an appearance on The Talk in 2017. “We’ve got Axl and we’re just working parents. We forever have that project together. And we’re doing the best we can.”
