The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creative industries has sparked a fervent debate, nowhere more so than in Hollywood. The creation of Tilly Norwood, a digital actress conceived by Dutch comedian Eline Van der Velden, has ignited a firestorm of controversy, drawing sharp criticism from established actors and unions alike, and even leading to death threats against her creator.
Van der Velden first introduced Tilly at the Zurich Film Festival last year. The announcement was met with immediate backlash. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) voiced strong opposition, stating that AI performers like Tilly pose a significant threat by potentially using “stolen performances” to displace human actors, thereby jeopardising livelihoods and devaluing human artistry.
Despite the fierce public criticism, Tilly Norwood has amassed a considerable following, boasting over 93,000 followers. However, she has also faced public condemnation from prominent stars, including Emily Blunt, Natasha Lyonne, Sophie Turner, and Toni Collette.
A Creator Under Siege
Nearly a year after Tilly’s debut, Van der Velden has revealed the intense nature of the criticism she has endured, to the extent that she has been compelled to file police reports. In a recent interview, she shared that on one occasion, mere moments before a Zoom call, she received a death threat.
This was reportedly not an isolated incident, with the comedian revealing it was “one of many she’s been getting these days.” The gravity of the situation forced her to contact the police. Reflecting on the paradox of her situation, Van der Velden noted, “They say there’s no humanity behind it, and then they go after the human behind it. It’s interesting to me,” she told the publication, reportedly with a shrug.
Behind Closed Doors: A Different Reception
Despite the public outcry, Van der Velden maintains that the negative reactions have been overshadowed by significant private support from within the Hollywood community. She stated that she has been engaged in discussions with “loads and loads” of Hollywood figures about her creation.
“The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,” she asserted, though she declined to name individuals who have privately expressed their support. “Directors have reached out. They want to work with Tilly,” she added.
Publicist Michelle Waldron echoed this sentiment, observing a shift in public perception. “People who were detracting four months ago have now seen the light and understood,” Waldron commented. “Because a lot of people got swept away by the headlines without reading the full story. Now that they have, they’re like, ‘Actually, this could be useful for me.'”
While Van der Velden found the response in the UK, where she now resides, to be “fairly relaxed,” the situation in Hollywood proved to be far more contentious.
A Call for Perspective
Pushing back against her critics, Van der Velden urged a more relaxed approach to Tilly Norwood. “She’s for entertainment purposes. She’s not to be taken too seriously. It’s meant to be a bit of fun. AI is a bit funny,” she advised.
Clarifying the nature of Tilly’s creation, Van der Velden made it clear that she herself is the actress, and Tilly is a digital representation acting “through a proxy.” She also addressed concerns that Tilly might have been trained on footage of real actors, asserting that the training data primarily consisted of publicly available home footage rather than copyrighted movie material.
Her vision, she explained, is for actors to embrace emerging technologies like the one behind Tilly as a means to “future-proof” their careers.
Hollywood’s Divided Response
The initial rollout of Tilly saw interest from talent agents, which subsequently drew criticism from actors like Emily Blunt, who argued that such developments would “take away our human connection.” Actress Melissa Barrera also described the creation and potential hiring of Tilly as “gross.”
However, Van der Velden remains steadfast in her assertion that Tilly was not conceived as a replacement for human actors. Instead, her intention is for Tilly to exist in a separate sphere, with “clear distinctions and expectations for each kind of star.”
“I think Tilly should stay in a world that doesn’t inhabit real actors, because I wouldn’t want her to take the job of a real actor, even though it’s me behind it,” Van der Velden stated. “Don’t worry – we’ll still have human actors. That was always the plan. The plan was not for her to take someone’s role in a real film or TV series. She’s in her own world, and that’s where she’ll stay.”
A Skeptic’s View
While many have voiced apprehension, actor Chris Pratt expressed a different perspective. He stated he was unfazed by the prospect of AI performers, insisting, “I don’t feel like someone’s gonna replace me.” Pratt dismissed the panic surrounding synthetic AI performers as “all bulls.” “I heard this Tilly Norwood thing, I think that’s all bulls,” he added. “I’ve never seen her in a movie. I don’t know who this b**** is. It’s all fake until it’s something.”
AI as a Tool, Not a Threat
Last year, Van der Velden issued a statement emphasizing that Tilly was “not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work.” She likened Tilly’s impact to other art forms that spark conversation and demonstrate the power of creativity.
“I see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool, a new paintbrush,” she explained. “Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting, AI offers another way to imagine and build stories.”
Van der Velden, an actor herself, believes that “nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance.” She views the creation of Tilly as an act of imagination and craftsmanship, akin to drawing a character or writing a role. “AI characters should be judged as part of their own genre, on their own merits,” she concluded, “not compared directly to human beings.”
