AI actress Tilly Norwood sparks debate in Hollywood

Tilly Norwood made her debut at the Zurich Film Festival and immediately drew attention. According to entertainment website Deadline, several Hollywood agents are interested in representing her. Norwood, who has already gained over 31,000 Instagram followers, earlier announced her first role in the comedy sketch AI Commissioner.

The character was developed by Eline van der Velden’s AI talent studio Xicoia. While there was initial skepticism in February, by May collaborations had started. Now, Norwood is on the radar of the international film industry.

Not everyone is enthusiastic. Well-known actors including Sophie Turner and Nicholas Alexander Chavez voiced disapproval on social media. Mara Wilson and Lukas Cage also expressed concerns, questioning the impact on young human actors.

Van der Velden responded to the criticism with a statement stressing that Norwood is not a replacement for a human being, but a piece of art and a new form of expression. She underlined that no AI character can replace the craft or joy of human performance.

The debate reflects ongoing concerns in the film industry. Two years ago, the SAG-AFTRA union held a months-long strike, partly due to the rise of AI. While AI had previously been used to digitally age actors or recreate scenes, the emergence of a fully digital actress marks a new phase.

Read the full article on the website of AD.