10/12/2025
Tilly Norwood is Hollywood’s first AI actress. What makes her different from a generic character created by code? With more than 60,000 followers on her Instagram account and several agencies scouting her, the actress’s persona is convincing.
Eline Van der Velden, the founder and CEO of Particle6 (an AI Production Studio), created Tilly Norwood as an experiment. Xicoia, the world’s first AI talent studio, was announced at the Zurich Film Festival and met with serious backlash.
SAG-AFTRA (the actor’s union) harshly criticized Norwood, pointing out her lack of human experience and emotion, explaining that AI can never replace humans. Additionally, since AI performers are trained using real performers without their consent, acknowledgement, or compensation, the union declared AI talent unethical. SAG also reminded companies of the 2023 deal to prefer humans before synthetic performers, and to inform the union should a company still choose the synthetic talent.
Considering how AI is already trained on humans, Mara Wilson pointed out how Norwood is essentially a blend of the countless actresses who created her face and likeness. It is no surprise that actors like Toni Collette, Melissa Barrera, and Lukas Gage responded adversely to the news. Countless others were enraged by the possibility of Norwood actually getting involved in films on the same caliber as real actors. Many have advocated for boycotting the studio. In a viral open letter to Norwood, actress Betty Gilpin explained why an AI actress might be more perfect than a real actress, but can never perform as one.
Still, high-level studios are secretly incorporating AI actors into their projects. Big advances in AI are to be expected, and several agencies are already battling to represent Norwood. The winner will be announced in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Xicoia plans to create more than 40 AI actors, rejuvenate movie stars to their younger years, and resurrect dead actors. These actors can star in all forms of media: films, television, YouTube, podcasts, video games, etc. The studio also plans to make its entities as “real” as possible–creating algorithms for fan interaction, backstories, unique personalities, and more. Ignoring the fact that it’s all handmade, Hollywood can look forward to a shipment of dozens of “perfect” performers.
Nevertheless, leaders in AI film production remain confident in the inadequacy of AI actors. Bryan Mooser, founder of Asteria (an AI film studio) and Tricia Biggio, CEO of AI animation studio Invisible Universe, among others, agree. Aki Ross was a computer-generated actor who starred in the 2001 film “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.” The film and studio crashed badly, prompting doubts about today’s AI performers as well.
In a recent Instagram post, Van der Velden clarified that this entity is not meant to replace actors but bridge the gap between technology and performing arts. She expressed excitement about this new medium of art and the endless possibilities to be explored with AI. Ironically, she also foresaw Norwood as “the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman.” Regardless of her purpose, the AI actress has drawn attention to the human actress/entrepreneur who created her, boosting her fame and business opportunities. Whether Tilly Norwood will have her Hollywood debut is yet to be discovered.