Hollywood is facing a heated debate after the launch of Tilly Norwood, an artificial intelligence “actress” that some talent agents are already interested in signing. Her arrival has sparked anger among actors and unions, who warn that AI performers could threaten real human jobs.
Tilly Norwood was created by Dutch producer and comedian Eline Van der Velden through her AI studio. She was first introduced at the Zurich Summit, presented as a digital character with no human actor behind her. Van der Velden described Tilly as a “piece of art” and a new way to tell stories, not a replacement for human talent. Even so, she confirmed that top agencies have reached out about representing the AI star.
This news was quickly met with backlash. The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA strongly criticized the idea, saying AI figures like Tilly undermine the value of real performers. The union’s statement stressed that “creativity should remain human-centered.” Union leaders also raised concerns that AI characters might be trained on the work of human actors without their permission or pay.
Several well-known actors joined the protest. Emily Blunt called Tilly’s arrival “terrifying” and warned that signing AI creations could damage the industry. Whoopi Goldberg said AI characters may have unfair advantages, as they can be built from pieces of many human performances. Actress Natasha Lyonne went further, urging actors to boycott any agency that signs Tilly.
At the same time, some argue that Tilly should not be seen as a threat. Supporters say AI characters could be used like animation or special effects tools that add to creativity rather than replace it. Van der Velden also explained that Tilly was designed to spark discussion about the role of AI in entertainment, not to steal jobs.
The argument over Tilly Norwood shows how quickly technology is changing Hollywood. As AI becomes more advanced, the industry is being forced to ask hard questions: How much room should synthetic performers have, and will human actors remain at the heart of storytelling?
