Key points
- Norwood presents as typical aspiring actress
- SAG-AFTRA warns AI threatens actor protections
- Stars call for boycott of agencies
NEW YORK: Hollywood is pushing back against Tilly Norwood, an “AI actor” created by Dutch comedian Eline Van der Velden, after reports emerged that she is in talks with talent agencies.
With social media pages showcasing headshots, faux auditions, and a fully AI-generated comedy sketch, Norwood presents as a typical aspiring actress. Her Instagram claims she has “girl next door vibes” and shares: “I may be AI, but I’m feeling very real emotions right now.”
However, the creation has drawn strong criticism from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), and stars including Emily Blunt, Natasha Lyonne and Whoopi Goldberg, reports the BBC.
SAG-AFTRA stated: “Norwood is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers.” They argued the AI has “no life experience to draw from” and warned it could undermine protections secured after the 2023 strike.
Human connection
Lyonne said any talent agency working with Norwood “should be boycotted by all guilds.” Though she is working with “ethical AI,” she called the project “deeply misguided & totally disturbed.”
Emily Blunt, reacting to a Norwood video on Variety’s podcast, said: “That’s an AI? Good Lord, we’re screwed,” urging agencies to “please stop taking away our human connection.”
On The View, Whoopi Goldberg said audiences would always recognise synthetic performers, as “our faces move differently, our bodies move differently.”
Van der Velden insists Norwood is “not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a piece of art,” likening the process to writing or drawing a character. She suggested AI projects are already being quietly adopted and hinted at high-profile announcements in the near future.
