Archive · 7 Dec 2025
AI Actress Tilly Norwood Sparks Hollywood Debate
Eline Van der Velden, a former actress and producer, created Tilly Norwood, the world's first AI actress.
She used AI tools like ChatGPT and Sora to design Tilly's appearance and personality.
Tilly has an ambiguous ethnicity, green eyes, and a brunette hair color.
The creation process involved thousands of iterations to get Tilly's look just right.
Hollywood actors and directors have expressed concerns about AI actors replacing human actors, with some calling the idea horrifying.
Van der Velden believes AI can bring a new creative renaissance to filmmaking and reduce production costs.
She is now working on developing Tilly's personality and behavior, with plans to have Tilly interact with fans directly next year.
Despite the initial backlash, Van der Velden has signed nondisclosure agreements for several AI and hybrid film projects.
Eline Van der Velden created Tilly Norwood, the world's first AI actress, using AI tools like ChatGPT and Sora.
Tilly's design involved 2,000 iterations to achieve a realistic, globally appealing look with ambiguous ethnicity.
Hollywood actors and directors, including James Cameron and Guillermo del Toro, have expressed concerns about AI actors.
Van der Velden envisions AI as a way to reduce film production costs and enable a new creative renaissance.
Particle6, Van der Velden's company, has signed nondisclosure agreements for AI and hybrid film projects ranging from $10 million to $50 million.
- Who
- Eline Van der Velden, creator of Tilly Norwood, an AI actress
- What
- Creation of the first AI movie star, Tilly Norwood, and the industry's reaction
- When
- Development started in 2023, with Tilly's final image emerging in May 2024
- Where
- London, United Kingdom, with industry events and discussions worldwide
- Why
- To explore a new visual language in filmmaking and reduce production costs
- Creator
- Eline Van der Velden
- AI Tools Used
- ChatGPT, Sora, Whisk, Topaz, Veo 3, Higgsfield, Seedream
- Tilly's Age
- 24 (adjustable)
- Company
- Particle6
- Tilly's Ethnicity
- Ambiguous
- Tilly's Hair Color
- Brunette