An encounter with Jeremy Renner is an intense experience. Like the moment he walks into the room and says he will put his phone down next to my recorder to tape our conversation and keep me "honest".
Even when he's joking, there's a serious edge to this Hollywood star.
In some ways a throwback to a bygone era, the actor famed for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel films comes equipped with a coiled, muscular physicality. To put it another way, in a fight, you would want to be on Renner's side. "I'm the last guy you want chasing after you,"
he says.
The 46 year-old has a fundamental – and very direct – belief system: don't mess with kids, women or animals, he says.
"Believe whatever God you want to believe in, think whatever you want to think … just don't do those things and we're all right. I'll accept you, I'll tolerate you … and it's all good. It's a principle, right? Maybe you agree with it, maybe you don't."
Renner's latest film, Wind River, plays into this, pitting the actor as a character close to home; perhaps the closest to himself he has ever played.
Set on the real-life Wind River Indian Reservation in snowy Wyoming, Renner plays Cory Lambert, a United States Fish and Wildlife Service agent. Usually, his days are spent hunting the coyotes and wolves that attack local livestock. But after he discovers the body of a raped Native American woman, he is on the trail of an altogether different predator.
READ MORE: Jeremy Renner: A brief history
Initially at least, the sharpshooting Cory feels like an archetypal Renner role. As he puts it, "90 per cent of my movies, I have a weapon in my hand". This could be indie thrillers such as The Hurt Locker and The Town, both of which saw him nominated for an Oscar, or blockbusters such as the Mission: Impossible franchise or The Bourne Legacy, which saw him pick up where Matt Damon left off. Weapons are a way of life to him. "I grew up with guns," he explains.
Yet beneath this tough exterior, Cory is a maelstrom of emotions, which becomes evident as he joins forces with Elizabeth Olsen's FBI agent.
Renner admits an explanation from Taylor Sheridan, the film's writer-director, explained "the inner workings of Cory" in a way that got him hooked. "[He said]: 'I want to write a movie about what happens if you take a piece of granite, you take a piece of steel … you bang them against each other and something's got to give.' I thought it was a really interesting outlook on it."
Reading the script, Renner initially felt Cory would be stoic, but after shooting several scenes he "fell apart", the emotions of a character overwhelming him.
"I was like: 'Hold on a sec – this guy is supposed to be a little more tough.' I always imagined he could deal with this situation … [but] it was actually a guy that is hyper-sensitive because of his past, so it became like a barrel of water that slow-leaks, seeping out. I had to run with that, because I couldn't hold in the emotion."
Collaborating with the in-demand Sheridan (a hot property after writing evocative thrillers Sicario and the Oscar-nominated Hell or High Water), Renner admits that "first and foremost being a father" helped him to key into Cory.
"I think that was the most effective fuel for the character," says the actor, who has a daughter, 4-year-old Ava Berlin, from his former marriage to Sonni Pacheco.
"Experiences I've had with my family helped," he says.
While Cory is dealing with emotional trauma from a past tragedy, it's something Renner understands. "I feel like anybody that goes through loss – you either run from it, [or] you steer towards it. There is no right or wrong way."
He mentions two women in his life – his acting coach and his grandmother – who lost a husband, a father and a child in the same year.
"Both women, as strong and unflappable as they both are…" He pauses, deep in thought. "Always the child 'loss' is the one that sends them spinning."
It's admissions such as this that make Renner a fascinating figure. Born in Modesto, California, the oldest of seven siblings, he grew up in a blue-collar world where showing your emotions was not encouraged. His father ran a bowling alley, and Renner didn't discover acting until he was at college studying computer science and criminology.
"It just wasn't a thing that was on anybody's radar for a job," he reflects. "You go drive a forklift for Costco or whatever … those were the jobs on offer."
Like his character in Wind River, he understands what it's like to be raised in a small town with few opportunities.
"Sometimes I'm jealous of those who stayed," he says, surprisingly. "I remember going to my 10-year high-school reunion in Modesto, and then 15-year and 20-year. And throughout those years, my career was in different stages. I did a ... commercial and then I did some movies, then became a big star. But I still envied those who could do what I want to do now – be a stay-at-home dad."
When Wind River debuted at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Renner was singled out for praise – playing "the taciturn hero with a strong-and-silent yet vulnerable élan", as Variety put it.
Much like his mathematician character in last year's sci-fi offering Arrival, another figure who encounters grief and loss, Renner is increasingly finding complex emotional terrain to explore beyond simply holding a gun or, in the case of The Avengers' Hawkeye, a bow-and-arrow.
While you suspect it will be Wind River that provides him with the greater career satisfaction, Renner is now returning to the Marvel Universe for the two-part Avengers film, Infinity War, which he will continue shooting until the end of the year.
"Two very, very different movies," he teases. As to whether he will get a stand-alone Hawkeye movie, he's not saying. He's got bigger concerns. "Being a father is number one. That's what keeps me focused."
Wind River opens in cinemas on Thursday
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READ MORE
Showbiz relationship splits we didn't see coming
Marvel hits back at early Inhumans criticism
Daniel Craig signed for two more Bond movies
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
SCHEDULE
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Amith's predicted winners:
6.30pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.05pm: Etisalat
7.40pm: Mulfit
8.15pm: Pennsylvania Dutch
8.50pm: Mudallel
9.25pm: Midnight Sands
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Wingard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBrian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Rebecca%20Hall%2C%20Dan%20Stevens%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Company%20profile
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo%20permanent%20magnet%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo-speed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E625hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh737%2C480%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
