British actress Jodie Turner-Smith is turning heads in Disney’s latest sci-fi adventure, Tron: Ares, which hits theaters on October 10, 2025. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Turner-Smith shares how her pre-existing motorcycle skills helped her take on the role of Athena, a fierce A.I. warrior, and why she’s collecting survival skills in real life for what she humorously calls the “impending apocalypse.”

---

Preparing for the Apocalypse: Jodie Turner-Smith’s Unique Approach

At 39, Turner-Smith isn’t just focusing on acting—she’s using her career to develop skills she jokingly claims are “for when society completely collapses.”

“I’m trying to collect survival skills for when, inevitably, society completely collapses,” Turner-Smith told PEOPLE. “Film and television has really given me the ability to work on weapons training. So that’s already in the pocket.”

She also joked about expanding her abilities beyond motorcycles:

“I need to be able to operate as many kinds of motor vehicles as possible in preparation for the impending apocalypse. Next on my list? Driving a boat and a helicopter.”

This commitment to skill-building explains why Turner-Smith already had motorcycle riding experience before filming Tron: Ares, making her prepared for Disney’s iconic Light Cycle sequences.

---

Portraying Athena: Wire Work, Bō Staffs, and Light Cycles

Turner-Smith plays Athena, a combative A.I. who joins forces with Jared Leto’s Ares and Greta Lee’s character as they navigate the real world after being uploaded from the digital grid.

To bring Athena to life, Turner-Smith underwent intense training, including:

• Wire work for high-flying stunts
• Bō staff combat for fight choreography
• Motorcycle training for the Light Cycle sequences

“It’s fun when you get to train six days a week on somebody else’s dime,” Turner-Smith quipped. “Even though I’d already been a person who works out, I got to really go hard.”

Her favorite moment on set? A dramatic scene where she emerges from rubble to chase down Greta Lee and Arturo Castro, which she likens to her personal “Terminator moment.”

---

Philosophy On Set: Working Hard and Playing Hard

Turner-Smith described her experience on Tron: Ares as a balance of work and fun:

“I work hard and I also play hard. Especially when you get to put on costumes that are out there and ride on Light Cycles and pretend like you’re inside of a computer grid, it definitely is [play].”

This philosophy carries over to her life outside of acting, particularly when it comes to teaching her 5-year-old daughter, Juno, self-defense skills.

“I want to put her in Taekwondo,” Turner-Smith said. “It’s very important for girls to know how to defend themselves. You never know when you might need to choke somebody out with your legs and put somebody to sleep!”

---

Future Goals: Expanding Her Skills and Roles

Beyond action-packed sci-fi roles, Turner-Smith is looking to expand her artistic repertoire. She hopes to try:

• Musicals
• Horror films

“I just want to live,” she laughs. “That’s what I want to do next: live at the end of a movie.”

With her ongoing dedication to personal growth and professional skill-building, Turner-Smith continues to impress fans both on-screen and off.

---

Tron: Ares Cast and Release Info

Alongside Turner-Smith, Tron: Ares stars:

• Jared Leto as Ares
• Greta Lee
• Evan Peters
• Hasan Minhaj
• Gillian Anderson
• Jeff Bridges

Directed by Joachim Rønning, the movie blends high-octane action with immersive sci-fi visuals. It is now playing in theaters nationwide. Turner-Smith also appears in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, which is currently in theaters.