'Mission: Impossible' Jeremy Renner: "I don't consider myself famous"

Jeremy Renner has admitted that he does not think of himself as being famous.

The actor shot to superstardom in the Academy Award-winning film The Hurt Locker and has since filmed the epics Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and The Avengers.

In a chat with USA Today, Renner admitted he enjoyed the increased attention that came with starring in a hit film after struggling for over a decade.

The actor said: "All of a sudden after Hurt Locker, people knew my name. Hey, man, it's great. When people recognise you for something you're proud of - why not?

"I don't consider myself famous. You have to look at it from where I'm standing. I've been doing it for 20 years. It's been a slow trajectory. I don't want to say it feels right, but it's palatable, I suppose."

Renner went on to discuss how his career has changed in the last few years.

"Now there is more awareness of me publicly and in the industry. More opportunities, better opportunities," he said. "You have to wait for a big star to come in and generate interest on a project, and now that has become me, which is an amazing blessing."

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, co-starring Renner and Tom Cruise, is now playing in US cinemas and opens on December 26 in the UK.

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Watch a trailer for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol below: