Jeremy Renner is Hawkeye. He is the guy who survived a 14,000-pound snowplow running him over on New Year's Day. He's the gritty Mike McLusky in Mayor of Kingstown. But before the Oscars and the Avengers, Renner had a totally different set of tools in his hands: makeup brushes.
It sounds like a Hollywood legend, right? The tough guy with the bow and arrow spending his weekends at a Lancôme counter. But it’s 100% true. For eight years, Jeremy Renner worked as a professional makeup artist to pay his bills while he was auditioning for the roles that would eventually make him a household name.
The Secret Life of a Department Store Makeup Artist
In the late '90s and early 2000s, if you walked into a high-end department store in Los Angeles, you might have had your foundation matched by a future Marvel star. Renner didn’t just dabble in it; he was a legitimate pro. He worked for major lines like Lancôme, MAC Cosmetics, Laura Mercier, and Bobbi Brown.
It wasn't just a hobby. He needed the money.
Renner has joked in interviews, specifically with Jonathan Ross and Drew Barrymore, that he chose makeup because it allowed him to work on the weekends and keep his weekdays free for auditions. "I didn't have to wait tables," he said. "It was actually a great gig."
But how does a guy from Modesto, California, end up at a beauty counter? It started with theater. While studying at Modesto Junior College, he played the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. He had to learn how to do "clown makeup" for the stage, and he realized he actually had a knack for it. He could paint. He could draw. He understood the lines of a face.
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The Psychology of Beauty
One of the most fascinating things about Jeremy Renner as a makeup artist is how he approached the job. He wasn't just slapping on product to hit a sales quota. He actually thought about the psychology behind it.
He once explained to People magazine that he wanted to know what made a woman feel beautiful without the makeup first. He’d ask questions. He’d look at the "connective tissue" between the person and the product. He basically used the same character-study skills he uses in acting to help women choose a lipstick shade.
Honestly, that's kinda deep for a mall job.
Did He Do Makeup on Set?
People often wonder if he ever pulled double duty once he started getting acting work. While he mostly left the professional kits behind once The Hurt Locker blew up in 2008, his skills didn't just vanish.
On the set of American Hustle, Renner actually helped out with his own look. He worked with the hair and makeup team—specifically artists like Rachel Geary—to nail that specific 1970s New Jersey mayor vibe. He knew exactly how he wanted his sideburns to look and how the application should feel.
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He still does it for his family, too. He’s admitted to doing his sister’s makeup for her wedding. Though, in classic sibling fashion, he told Jonathan Ross that if she gets married again, she’s on her own. "I'm not going to keep doing this," he joked.
Healing and the "New" Face of Jeremy Renner
The conversation around Renner and makeup changed drastically after January 1, 2023. After the horrific snowplow accident that broke over 30 bones and caused blunt chest trauma, Renner's face was literally rebuilt.
His left eye had popped out of its socket. His jaw and mandible were broken.
When he finally returned to the red carpet for the premiere of Rennervations in April 2023, the world was stunned at how good he looked. This wasn't just luck; it was a combination of incredible surgery and the work of high-level professional makeup artists who knew how to handle post-surgical skin and scarring.
Modern Reconstruction and Grooming
For his recent appearances, including the world premiere of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery in late 2025, Renner has been open about his scars. He even posed shirtless for Men's Health to show the world what 25% titanium looks like.
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On set for Mayor of Kingstown Season 3, the makeup department—which has included artists like Christopher Patrick and Krista Montgomery—had a unique challenge. They weren't just making him look "gritty" for the show; they were working with a lead actor who was still physically healing.
Renner has noted that he views his physical scars as "reminders of a beautiful day that could have been a bad day." He doesn't hide them, but the artistry involved in "grooming" for a high-definition camera is intense when you're dealing with the kind of trauma he endured.
What You Can Learn from the Renner Approach
Renner’s background in makeup gives him a perspective most actors don't have. He understands the "why" behind the look. If you’re interested in his specific tips, he’s actually shared a few "pro" secrets:
- The Lip Liner Trick: He told Drew Barrymore to use lip liner over the entire lip, not just the edges. It makes the color last longer because it’s matte and has less oil.
- Gloss over Lipstick: He prefers using a lip gloss over a liner to give it shine rather than a heavy, oily lipstick.
- Focus on the Eyes: He’s famously confident in his ability to do a "smoky eye." His secret? It’s all about the blending and understanding the bone structure of the socket.
Practical Steps for Your Own Routine
If you want to apply the Jeremy Renner philosophy to your own grooming or makeup:
- Understand your structure. Before applying anything, look at the planes of your face in natural light.
- Ask the "Why." Don't just follow a trend. Ask what makes you feel confident. Is it a bold lip? Is it just a bit of concealer to hide a tired night?
- Vary your tools. Like Renner transitioning from theater "clown" makeup to high-end Lancôme, don't be afraid to experiment with different textures—creams, powders, and liners—to see how they interact with your skin.
Renner's journey from the makeup counter to the Marvel Universe is a reminder that no job is "less than" if it helps you get where you're going. It gave him the financial freedom to say "no" to bad roles and "yes" to the auditions that changed his life.
And yeah, he can still probably blend an eyeshadow better than most of us.