Tilly Norwood: The new star that has Hollywood outraged

She’s been hailed as the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman, but this new actress is not real.

Dubbed the first AI-generated actress, Tilly Norwood is reportedly in talks with major talent agencies, causing heated backlash from the industry.

It’s sparked her creator to hit back at criticism, insisting Norwood is not a replacement for humans, rather a creative work, or “piece of art”.

Norwood is the creation of Dutch comedian, writer and actress Eline Van der Velden through her new AI talent studio Xicoia – a spin-off of AI production studio Particle6.

The new business aims to create media talent made with complete backstories and distinct personalities.

Norwood is the first of these characters, launched with her own social media accounts.

In July, Norwood revealed on her Facebook page that she had appeared in her "first role", a comedy sketch AI Commissioner.

Norwood wrote: “I may be AI generated, but I’m feeling very real emotions right now. I am so excited for what’s coming next!”

She became the centre of attention after Van der Velden told a Zurich Summit in September that agents had been circling the AI character, and she would soon be announcing which agency would represent Norwood.

“We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman, that’s the aim of what we’re doing,” creator Van der Velden told Broadcast International, adding that economic issues were driving the movie and TV business toward AI production.

In a LinkedIn post, Van der Velden commented, “Audiences? They care about the story - not whether the star has a pulse. Tilly is already attracting interest from talent agencies and fans. The age of synthetic actors isn’t ‘coming’ — it’s here.”

The news sparked immediate ire from Hollywood, with well-known actors and filmmakers weighing in.

Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino posted on social media that this marked the end of the industry as we know it: “Say goodbye to actors. No one should be supporting this".

Oscar-nominated actress Emily Blunt told a Variety podcast: “Does it disappoint me? I don’t know how to quite answer it, other than to say how terrifying this is.” When shown an image of Norwood, she said: “No, are you serious? That’s an AI? Good Lord, we’re screwed. That is really, really scary, Come on, agencies, don’t do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection.”

Some actors called for the talent agencies in the running to rep Norwood be outed.

“Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$$. How gross, read the room,” Scream actress Melissa Barrera wrote online.

“And what about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?” Matilda star Mara Wilson wrote.

Whoopi Goldberg argued that AI-generated actors have “a bit of an unfair advantage” when asked to comment on US talk show, The View. “The problem with this, in my humble opinion, is that you are suddenly up against something that’s been generated with 5000 other actors.”

But she also suggested that she’s up for the challenge, concluding, “Bring it on. You can always tell them from us. We move differently, our faces move differently, our bodies move differently.”

Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale simply responded “no”. And The White Lotus star Lukas Gage joked: “She was a nightmare to work with".

Van der Velden has defended her creative work, posting a statement on Norwood’s social media account.

“Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity,” van der Velden wrote.

“I see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool, a new paintbrush. Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting, AI offers another way to imagine and build stories.

“I’m an actor myself, and nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance.”

Van der Velden said she believes AI characters should be judged as part of their own merit, rather than compete directly with actors.

“Each form of art has its place, and each can be valued for what it uniquely brings. I hope we can welcome AI as part of the wider artistic family: one more way to express ourselves, alongside theatre, film, painting, music, and countless others,” she said.

“When we celebrate all forms of creativity, we open doors to new voices, new stories, and new ways of connecting with each other.”