AI-Generated ‘Actor’ Tilly Norwood Stirs Fierce Backlash in Hollywood
Hollywood is once again at the center of a heated debate over artificial intelligence, following the unveiling of Tilly Norwood – a computer-generated “actor” that some say could threaten the future of human performers.
Created by Dutch producer and comedian Eline Van der Velden, Tilly Norwood is billed as the world’s first AI talent under Van der Velden’s studio, Xicoia. Marketed as a potential star in the mold of Scarlett Johansson, Norwood has already drawn interest from talent agencies, according to Van der Velden.
But the reaction across the industry has been overwhelmingly negative. Actor unions, filmmakers, and industry veterans argue that the project undermines the essence of acting. In a strongly worded statement, the Screen Actors Guild declared that storytelling must remain “human-centered,” stressing that Norwood is not an actor but “a computer program trained on the work of countless professionals – without consent or compensation.”
Sean Astin, star of The Lord of the Rings and newly elected president of SAG-AFTRA, reinforced that point. “You’re made up of material that doesn’t belong to you,” he said in an interview, calling for proper recognition of real performers’ contributions.
The controversy comes less than a year after Hollywood endured a crippling strike over AI protections. Last year’s SAG-AFTRA agreement introduced safeguards around the use of performers’ likenesses, while video game voice actors secured similar rules in July requiring written permission before digital replicas are made.
Still, concerns persist. Earlier this year, the Oscar-winning film The Brutalist faced criticism after it was revealed that AI had been used to generate dialogue for Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones’ characters.
Van der Velden, who also runs the AI studio Particle6, defended her creation in an Instagram post, describing Tilly as a work of art meant to spark conversation. “She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative piece that reflects imagination and craftsmanship,” she wrote.
Tilly Norwood’s Instagram account, which has already attracted more than 33,000 followers, showcases the digital character in everyday scenarios like drinking coffee and shopping, alongside captions teasing her journey to the “big screen.”
But Hollywood’s skepticism remains firm. Actress Natasha Lyonne, currently directing a film exploring the ethical use of AI, warned that any agency representing Norwood should be boycotted. “Deeply misguided and totally disturbed,” she wrote.
For many in the industry, the issue boils down to authenticity. As Astin put it: “Artificial intelligence can approximate emotion, but it can’t live it. Human experience – love, loss, fear, joy – that’s what makes acting real.”
