The emergence of an AI-generated “actress” has ignited a firestorm in Hollywood, representing the latest flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between creative professionals and artificial intelligence. While the character’s creator defends it as art and not a replacement for human talent, many actors remain unconvinced, viewing the project as a direct threat to their livelihoods.
The virtual persona, “Tilly Norwood,” is presented as a young, aspiring actress with a Gen Z influencer-style Instagram profile. The project, created by Eline Van Der Velden of the AI startup Particle6, gained notoriety for a post boasting of the character’s capabilities: “In 20 seconds I fought monsters, fled explosions, sold you a car, and nearly won an Oscar. All in a day’s work… literally!”
The backlash intensified after a Deadline report on Saturday claimed talent agents were looking to sign Tilly and that movie studios were quietly embracing similar AI-generated content. The character’s Instagram account was flooded with criticism from prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
“Wow … no thanks,” commented “Game of Thrones” star Sophie Turner. Actor Cameron Cowperthwaite (“American Horror Story”) described the project as “incredibly thoughtless and frankly disturbing.” Ralph Ineson, known for his role in “Nosferatu,” offered a more blunt response on X: “F**k off.”
In response, Van Der Velden posted a statement arguing that Tilly is not meant to replace human actors. “She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work — a piece of art,” she wrote, comparing the character to creations in animation, puppetry, or CGI. “AI characters should be judged as part of their own genre… rather than compared directly to human actors.”
However, this explanation has done little to soothe industry fears, as many creatives argue that AI models like the one used to create Tilly are trained on their work without consent or compensation. “You didn’t make this. Hundreds of real workers, real photographers, camera operators, heck, even farmers, made this,” commented actress Mara Wilson (“Matilda”). “You took their work and pretended it was yours.”
Anxieties over the use of AI were a central issue in the 2023 Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes. While both unions secured agreements with major studios that included protections against AI, these contracts do not prevent independent creators from using publicly available AI tools.
The dispute over training data has also moved to the courtroom. Top media companies, including Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery, have filed lawsuits against AI image generator Midjourney, accusing it of infringing on intellectual property by training its models on their copyrighted material.
Meanwhile, AI firms are beginning to address these concerns. OpenAI reportedly notified talent agencies this week that its updated Sora video generator may include copyrighted material unless the rights holder opts out. The company stated it will proactively block AI-generated videos in the style of living artists and allow public figures to have their likenesses excluded.
