Jeremy Renner Quotes

There's too much down time making movies. That leads to boredom. And that leads to trouble.

I've done movies that nobody's seen, and that's no fun.

I was an athlete when I was growing up.

Our friendship [ with Don Handfield] has remained all that time, and I'm godfather to his kids, but then when The Hurt Locker came around, I just knew there was a lot of opportunity that was coming in, and just couldn't really manifest any opportunities because things were busy.

If you dissect my career as an actor, and you can pull out more than enough of those type of movies, from The Hurt Locker and The Town and so on and so forth, and that's kind of where our wheelhouse is. We love it.

I can't totally talk about why we divide, but... it's interesting because we're doing this scene today that's sort of the pinnacle of that. Two gangs fighting against each other, ultimately knowing that... ya know, it's like friends fighting friends. To me it's fun, personally.

My philosophy on what makeup is...it's very different from what a woman's is. Makeup came from a very psychological place - of the peacock.

We had tried to get a couple books that were written about Ray Kroc, and one of the books, we called the publisher. The publisher actually said, "Call McDonald."

I think cinema should provoke thoughts, sure, but using it as I soapbox I think is the wrong place. I never want to be part of something like that, where there's an agenda there that's not about telling a story, where its someone getting on a soapbox and preaching their own beliefs onto somebody.

Yeah yeah, it's not so ethereal this time, it's a bit more rooted I feel like. Not that Joss 's wasn't, it was just a broader stroke that Joss was doing with all the Avengers. The Russo brothers are taking this Avengers 2.5, if you will, in keeping it still a Captain America movie. It's very sort of boots on the ground kinda thing, except for the flyers.

The star thing, the celebrity thing, is new to me.

I like to play unpredictable characters, and I like to be unpredictable in what movie I'll do.

I only scream and scratch when something's only 'really good' or 'good', I want to be great, or let's go home.

I like to play unpredictable characters, and I like to be unpredictable in what movie I'll do. I want to skip to work. I don't want to repeat anything. What the future holds, I don't know, but that's what I like. I'll take any risk there is.

There is nothing new, from Greek mythology to Shakespeare to every romcom ever made, we're just reimagining the same 12 story plots over and over again - so what makes people keep watching and listening? It's all about the character.

I do music because I can just pick up my guitar and sing, and completely satisfy, instant gratification. I don't need a script, I don't people, I don't need anything, cameras, I just have myself and my guitar, or keyboard.

I'm blessed to have cool roles in these big movies.

I have a bad sweet tooth. I'm pretty good when I have to eat well for work, but otherwise, I could eat a whole roll of raw cookie dough.

Aren't we taught as kids that we're beautiful because we feel beautiful and not because someone else says so? You don't look like the model on the magazine cover but you can still be beautiful, so I can't say I really want to change anything. I'm happy with the flaws I have.

I love the idea of going to work and having to fight and learn a new skill set, whether it's muay Thai or Kali or Filipino stick fighting. To me, it's like college for life.

Architecture and building is about how you get around the obstacles that are presented to you. That sometimes determines how successful you'll be: How good are you at going around obstacles?

Music I do just for me.

I used to hang out at karaoke bars all the time. It was the most fun you could have when you had no money.

I like repressed characters. That gives me a lot of freedom to make a lot of different choices through subtleties.

I was always a singer. But I was always focused on being an actor as my trade. Music I do just for me. The movie business is very difficult but the music business is just impossible.

Don [ Handfield] was actually one of the first guys I met in town back in '94. He was an actor and a writer and all this stuff.

People love to yammer on about things that aren't real.

I'm consciously aware, specifically with the comic book world, where there's a built-in fanbase. But, there's a little bit of leniency because there are a couple different universes.

I'm an actor for hire, and I go do a job.

We want to make people feel something after they buy that ticket.

It takes a lot out of you to do a stage play, but I'd love to do that. I'd love to continue to do challenging material, whatever shape or form that comes in.

I lived by the candlelight for two years because I couldn't afford power. It was nice and romantic at the time, but if you can't afford power you're pretty broke. You endure it.

Other people can think ahead all they want. I just focus on the task at hand and try to move on.

I guess gritty is the word that you said. But it has a different tone. We're not flying around in different universes - it's a bit more earthy.

We want to have movies be seen. So, first and foremost, what's the world? So we can get it onto a big screen.

I don't do well with expectation in my life. All I can do is do the best that I can do.

What matters to me is learning and growing, and getting to do what I love to do. As long as I can do that, I'm happy.

I don't want to play a bad guy who doesn't have a bit of good in him.

I want my personal life to be personal... And I don't care if you're talking about things that are true, you're still talking about my personal life.

Fear is just not a part of my life - so much so that if it's involved in somebody else's life and they're close to me, I won't be around them.

I need to react to a script, to feel strongly about it in some way. And I need it to be a complex character for sure. And also, I think a lot about what kind of audience there is for the film, what they're looking for and ways to connect with them in the playing of a character.

I live my life through fear. If I'm afraid of it I'll do it just so I'm not afraid of it anymore.

In the 'Hurt Locker' there's a lot of me in there, a sense of humor, a man of few words and a lot of action.

I have a hard time saying "no" if it's right. I don't say "no" to say "no." I said "no" when I didn't have a pot to piss in. I still said "no" to big money jobs because they didn't make creative sense to me.

I guess I just have one of those resting faces that makes me look like I want to beat you up.

The movie business is very difficult but the music business is just impossible. So I'll play in bands and record and play songs with other people, but for me it's a form of expression that all I need is me. I don't need cameras or agents, I can just have a piano and sing and feel totally verified.

I'm just happy to be working.

People find themselves in ruts all the time. You're in a complacent lifestyle where you work 9 to 5 and then you add a mortgage and kids. You feel trapped, but guess what, brother? You constructed that life. If you're OK with it, there's nothing wrong with that. But if you've got unease, then you've got to make a change.