Who Is Tilly Norwood? Hollywood’s First AI-Generated Actress Sparks Controversy

Tilly Norwood, described as Hollywood’s first AI-generated actress, has become the centre of a heated debate within the creative community. Created by Eline Van der Velden and her company Particle6, Tilly is a computer-generated “girl next door” who already has a growing fan base and interest from talent agencies.

Van der Velden told an industry panel in Switzerland that studios and entertainment firms are quietly welcoming AI technology, which her company believes can dramatically cut production costs.

“When we first launched Tilly, people were like, ‘What’s that?’, and now we’re going to be announcing which agency is going to be representing her in the next few months,” she said.

Who Is Tilly Norwood?

Tilly Norwood has appeared in a short sketch

and is intended to be a major figure in entertainment. Van der Velden said, “We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman, that’s the aim of what we’re doing.”

“People are realizing that their creativity doesn’t need to be boxed in by a budget -– there are no constraints creatively and that’s why AI can really be a positive.”

However, the arrival of Tilly Norwood has faced fierce backlash from Hollywood actors and creatives. The use of AI in entertainment was a major issue during the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes.

Actress Melissa Barrera criticised talent agents promoting AI actors, urging colleagues to boycott them.

Meanwhile, Mara Wilson, the child star of Matilda, pointed out the ethical concerns about Tilly’s creation. “What about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?” she questioned.

In response to the criticism, Van der Velden posted on Tilly’s Instagram, defending her creation. She said, “She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a piece of art. Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity.”

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A post shared by Tilly Norwood (@tillynorwood)

“I see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool… AI offers another way to imagine and build stories,” she added.

The rise of AI figures like Tilly Norwood reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence in creative industries. Virtual bands like The Velvet Sundown have gained millions of listeners, and magazines like Vogue have featured AI-generated models, signalling a new era of digital creativity — and controversy.

(With inputs from AFP)