HOLLYWOOD (Enmaeya News) — September 30, 2025

An AI actress named Tilly Norwood has been created by Eline Van der Velden, CEO of the AI production company Particle 6 and AI talent studio Xicoia, sparking a heated debate in Hollywood.

Tilly, described as a white, brunette, brown-eyed AI character, was introduced earlier this year with social media accounts on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube featuring AI-generated selfies and casual posts.

Van der Velden responded to backlash by insisting Tilly is “a piece of art,” not a replacement for human actors. In a statement, she said AI should be seen as a new creative tool—“another way to imagine and build stories”—similar to animation or CGI.

Despite this, several Hollywood stars have voiced strong opposition. Melissa Barrera called the AI actress “gross” and encouraged actors to sever ties with agencies representing AI talent. Mara Wilson questioned the ethics of creating Tilly’s face from composites of hundreds of real young women. Nicholas Alexander Chavez dismissed Tilly as “not an actress.”

Other actors responded with humor. Lukas Gage of The White Lotus joked, “She was a nightmare to work with!!!!”

Van der Velden, also an actor, emphasized that AI characters do not diminish human performance and should be valued on their own merits. She urged the industry to welcome AI as part of the broader artistic community alongside theater, film, painting, and music.

The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions in Hollywood over the rise of AI. The 2023 strike by SAG-AFTRA, the union representing more than 160,000 actors, highlighted concerns about AI use, including proposals to scan background performers and limit their pay while studios retain rights to those digital likenesses.

As interest grows, some talent agents are reportedly looking to sign Tilly Norwood, branding her as the “next Scarlett Johansson,” intensifying debate over AI’s role in entertainment.