AI Actress Tilly Norwood Causes Controversy in Hollywood
los angeles, woensdag, 1 oktober 2025.
The AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood, created by the company Xicoia, is drawing attention in Hollywood. While talent agencies show interest, many actors and unions such as SAG-AFTRA express concern. Eline Van der Velden, the creator of Tilly, states that she is a creative work, not a replacement for human actors. This has reignited the debate around AI in the entertainment industry.
First AI-Generated Actress Debuts in Hollywood
The AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood, created by the company Xicoia, made her debut in Hollywood. The technology behind Tilly Norwood has sparked both enthusiasm and concerns about the future of the film industry and the role of human actors. According to Eline Van der Velden, the creator of Tilly, she is a creative work and not a replacement for human actors [1][2].
Reactions from the Film Industry
The introduction of Tilly Norwood has elicited strong reactions. Actors and unions such as SAG-AFTRA have expressed their concerns. Melissa Barrera, star of the Scream franchise, reacted strongly: “Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$$. How gross, read the room.” Mara Wilson, known for her role in Matilda, added: “And what about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?” [3][4].
SAG-AFTRA Warns of Threat
SAG-AFTRA, the largest actors’ union in Hollywood, issued an official statement asserting that Tilly Norwood “is not an actor but a computer-generated character trained on the work of countless professional performers—without permission or compensation.” The union warns producers that they must comply with their contractual obligations when using synthetic performers [5].
Technical Details and Applications
Tilly Norwood was created by combining AI technologies such as deep learning and generative adversarial networks (GANs). This technology makes it possible to create hyper-realistic faces and voices. Tilly Norwood can act 24 hours a day, play various roles, and adapt to the needs of a script or business within seconds. Additionally, she can communicate on social media as if she were a real actress [1][2].
Impact on the Film Industry
The introduction of AI actors like Tilly Norwood has both advantages and disadvantages. According to Eline Van der Velden, the technology can reduce production costs by up to 90%. It also offers new possibilities for creativity and diversity in the entertainment sector. However, there are also ethical considerations, such as the use of real people’s faces and voices without their consent [1][2][5].
Future Perspectives
Xicoia plans to develop more AI talents for film, television, podcasts, social media, and video games. The company’s strategy is focused on creating hyper-realistic digital stars with full backstories, unique voices, and dynamic storylines. Although the technology is still in its early stages, the reaction in the film industry has been strong, and the debate over the role of AI in the entertainment sector is becoming increasingly intense [1][2][3][4][5].