The introduction of AI-generated actor Tilly Norwood has sparked strong reactions across Hollywood. Tilly Norwood is a digital character created by Eline Van der Velden, a Dutch comedian, writer and actress. Van der Velden's company, Particle6, claims that AI can drastically reduce production costs, but the industry is pushing back.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) released a statement denouncing studios' potential use of AI actors, saying "creativity is, and should remain, human-centered." Several actors, including Emily Blunt, Melissa Barrera and Natasha Lyonne, have criticized the synthetic performer. Mara Wilson, known for her role in Matilda, questioned the ethics of using hundreds of living young women's faces to create Tilly Norwood without compensation or credit.
Van der Velden defended her creation, stating that Tilly Norwood is "not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a piece of art." She believes AI characters should be judged on their own merits rather than compared directly to human actors. However, many in Hollywood disagree, seeing AI-generated actors as a threat to livelihoods and artistic integrity.
