Raffey Cassidy is Athena in the Disney movie, Tomorrowland. Both Athena and Raffey captivated my heart! Both are wise beyond their years, strong and optimistic. Raffey Cassidy is extremely talented, poised and full of life. Athena is driven and on a mission. I was elated to see such a talented actress and smart young lady as the one holding the lighted torch that leads the way to a better future both on and off camera. Let’s Dream and Drive Into Tomorrowland With Raffey Cassidy Exclusive Interview #TomorrowlandEvent
As we talked with Raffey Cassidy, the vibe I got from her was one of a genuine, natural girl who lives today, and has and eye out for a better future. You will read an intelligent, sweet girl full of confidence and optimism. I do have to share that smiling, she answered every question insightfully without missing a beat. Her positivism and down to earth attitude are evident.

Photo credit: Louise Bishop- MomStart.com
Raffey Cassidy started in acting when brother had gone to an audition, and she was asked if she wanted to try it out too. For Tomorrowland’s role, she sent in a tape and attended two auditions. Once she was chosen as Athena, the first thing that struck her when she got to the Tomorrowland set was how everyone was doing such different jobs, but in the end it all comes together so well.
Question to ask: what was your favorite scene to shoot?
Raffey Cassidy: “My favorite scene to shoot was probably the blast from the past sequence. I really liked that because of all the action in it”.
Her hardest scene to film was the last one in the movie. She had a lot of lines, but once she learned them it all just flowed. Something that helped here for that scene too was that RC: “George (Clooney) had a lot of eye contact with me, so it’s so easy to perform, and it would have been hard if George wasn’t so good. But in the end, it was easy because he is just so professional and kept eye contact the whole time.”
Question: What was the most challenging part of filming the movie for you?
Raffey Cassidy : “Well, I kind of had to create a background for Athena, so, because she didn’t really have one, which was fun because that was something that I created for Athena”.
Question: You did such a good job playing a robot, how did you train to play the role, like you did such a good job of playing a robot, I think. How did you train for that?
Raffey Cassidy: “Well, I mean, Athena has so many different qualities. She’s optimistic. She’s intelligent. She’s wise, and I just kind of put all of those together, and I always had an image in my head for a scene, so I would never go it cold. I always had an image that would just help me”.
Question: What did you like most about Athena’s personality?
Raffey Cassidy: “Um, I love how wise she is, like she’s like an old soul inside of a young body”.
Question: What traits of Athena do you see in yourself?
Raffey Cassidy: “Well, if I had to choose something, it would probably be optimism, because I think that I feel that I’m quite optimistic and always look on the bright side of a bad situation”.
When we interviewed George Clooney he shared a bit on the driving scene with Miss Cassidy ( our George Clooney Part 2 Interview). Raffey Cassidy shared some more on it:
Raffey Cassidy: “I really enjoyed it. It was so fun because they actually taught me how to drive, and there was a scene where I had to like go down a ramp and stop. I think really I started to get a little too confident, and I got too close. Britt (Britt Robertson exclusive interview here) just went “Stop!” [she says in high pitched voice] because it got so close”.
Question: How was it almost having to be the adult in the film? I mean, especially George tends to joke a lot.
Raffey Cassidy: “Athena is kind of the mom of the whole going. She looks after Casey and Frank, trying to bring them together to help him save the world. And that kind of becomes, through their adventure, they would become like family”.
“Yeah, he played some funny jokes. There was this one time, towards the start of the shoot when, we were pulled on a black monorail and the doors would open, and the camera would be there watching us. So George thought it would be funny if we all ran to the side of the monorail and the doors would open and nobody would be there. So we did it, and everybody went wait, where they all gone?”.
On working with George Clooney she shares she learned a lot from him and remarked how professional and fun he is to work with.

Photo credit: Louise Bishop- MomStart.com
Question: Because of your age, you are the future. When you were filming did you look at it and say okay, this may be how the future’s going to be, were there certain aspects that you thought no, not too much? Did it seem like it flowed for you for what may happen?
Raffey Cassidy:”Yes, there was so much technology in the actual Tomorrowland and I think that that’s how it’s going to be in, I don’t know, 60 years’ time or something. So, I think that will be the future”.
Question: Do you feel like the movie changed how you view the world now and the future? Did it make you more optimistic?
Raffey Cassidy: “Oh yeah, there was so much more optimism and it made me think. Even talking about it now makes me think about the future and how optimistic we can all be and how we can make it what we want”.
Question: What’s the message that you would tell girls your age about the future and getting in the the science, math, and technology fields?
Raffey Cassidy:” I’d say the future isn’t a place we’re going. It’s something we’re making, so it can be anything that they want it to be”.
Question: What was your take away from the movie? If there’s one thing you took away from it, and want everybody to think off?
Raffey Cassidy: “Um, that everybody should be very optimistic and feel that there’s a way around situations if they’re in a bad situation. There’s always a bright side”.
Just like George Clooney shared in part 1 of his interview with us, she also wants the Jet Packs from the movie!
Interviewing Miss Cassidy pretty much had the same effect on me as watching Tomorrowland: we can do it! We are the force that will make the future a better one. Quoting Raffey Cassidy, “the future isn’t a place we’re going. It’s something we’re making, so it can be anything that they want it to be.”
If you want to learn more about it like what Disney heritage is featured Disney heritage is featured or What the inspiration is behind it, definitively read our interview with director Brad Bird and co-wirter Damon Lindelof
You have to go take your family to see Tomorrowland. Round up your dreamers, visionaries and innovators, We need them all to be inspired by the uplifting message of the film.
Privacy -Disclosure
What an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your amazing interview, it goes to show that our future is in good hands because of kids like, Raffey Cassidy.