Meet Tilly Norwood, Hollywood’s newest "actress" — but don’t expect to run into her at a red carpet event. Why? Because she’s not real.
Tilly is an AI-generated character created by actor and comedian Eline Van der Velden, who is also the founder and CEO of Particle 6, an AI production company. Through her latest venture, Xicoia, a studio dedicated to AI talent, Van der Velden introduced Tilly Norwood to the world — and the response has been anything but quiet.
According to a report from Deadline, real-life Hollywood talent agents have already shown interest in representing the virtual actress. That news alone sparked a wave of concern from industry professionals, especially human actors who see AI as a growing threat to their livelihoods.
It’s a sensitive subject. AI was a major sticking point in the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, where actors and writers pushed hard for protections against being replaced by digital counterparts.
So, just how much of a threat is Tilly Norwood?
Dr. Emily Carmen, associate professor of Film and Media Studies at Chapman University, shared her take. While she doesn’t believe Tilly is coming for the A-listers’ roles anytime soon, she warned that the real concern lies with working actors — the ones doing commercials, background roles, and other non-star gigs.
“Maybe it’s easier to throw in a Tilly Norwood instead of actually, you know, paying union wages for a day's work,” Carmen said. “That’s where I think there is more to be concerned about.”
But AI characters aren’t exactly foolproof just yet. Kate Fortmueller, associate professor of Media Studies at Georgia State University, pointed out that Tilly still has that slightly off, uncanny valley vibe.
“The clips they released — the face, the way it moves — it’s just not quite there,” Fortmueller noted. “She’ll never age, never ask for a raise, but also never bring the depth and humanity that a real actor does.”
Van der Velden addressed the controversy in a social media post, describing Tilly as “not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work — a piece of art.” She expressed hope that AI creations like Tilly could one day be embraced “as part of the wider artistic family.”
Still, many in the industry aren’t convinced. As AI continues to evolve, the line between art and automation gets blurrier — and for Hollywood’s human performers, that’s more than just a philosophical debate. It’s their paycheck.
Frank
