Jeremy Renner Talks About His 'Best Role'

— -- Jeremy Renner has had a lot of great roles, including his Oscar-nominated turn in "The Hurt Locker," but nothing compares to his "best" role as father to 2-year-old Ava.

"It is the greatest thing in the world. I mean, it really kind of changed my perspective on a lot of things," Renner, 44, told "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" airing today. "It's kind of screwed my career in a lot of ways, because I don't really care about it so much, 'cause I care about her so much. She's like No. 1 in my life. And now, I get to do movies on the side. Daddy's my best role to date, I think."

When the audience applauded, Renner quipped, "And all I had to do was have sex. That's amazing."

Renner fathered Ava with estranged wife Sonni Pacheco back in March 2013.

Since then, the actor does whatever he can to make time for his daughter.

"I do a lot of flights back [when I'm working]," he said. "I did like 40 flights back from London to here pretty much every other week to see her, sometimes for eight hours, and then [I] fly back," he told DeGeneres.

At least when Renner's away, Ava has lots of relatives to keep her company.

Renner revealed on the show that he's the oldest of seven, and the youngest just happens to be the same age as his daughter.

"My dad had my brother the same week I had my daughter," he said. "So it's kind of like my dad's having his own grandkids."

Added Renner, "It bodes well for me, I guess. I can still, you know, make things happen later on in life."