Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Creator of AI Actress Tilly Norwood Addresses Backlash, Future of AI in Entertainment
Imagine a new kind of digital actress named Tilly.
Her creator, Eline, made her using computers and special programs, like drawing with a super smart tool.
When people found out, many actors and others got worried, thinking Tilly might take away jobs from real actors.
Eline says that's not her plan.
She believes Tilly is like a character in a cartoon or a video game, meant for a special 'AI' kind of movie, not to replace real actors.
Eline's company also helps make real movies cheaper and safer using AI, so more stories can be told.
She explains that Tilly was made very carefully by many people and isn't based on any real person.
While some worry about AI taking jobs, Eline thinks it will actually create new kinds of jobs and more movies for everyone to enjoy.
She wants to make sure AI is used in a fair and good way for the entertainment world.
AI actress Tilly Norwood sparked global backlash after her creator, Eline Van Der Velden, revealed plans for her representation.
Van Der Velden insists Tilly is for a separate 'AI genre' and not a replacement for human actors, aiming to help greenlight projects with AI's cost and environmental benefits.
The creation of Tilly involved a team of 15 humans and a transparent, ethical process using various AI tools.
Despite backlash, Van Der Velden is still in discussions with talent agents and plans to create 40 diverse AI characters for Xicoia.
Van Der Velden advocates for industry-led ethical guidelines and sees AI as a catalyst for a 'creative renaissance' rather than job obsolescence.
- Who
- Eline Van Der Velden, creator of the AI actress Tilly Norwood
- What
- Discussed the creation of Tilly Norwood, addressed the global backlash, and explained her vision for the role of AI in the entertainment industry.
- When
- One month after the initial backlash at the Zurich Summit
- Where
- Exclusive interview with Deadline
- Why
- To set the record straight regarding Tilly Norwood's creation, purpose, and the broader implications of AI in entertainment.
Creator's Perspective (Eline Van Der Velden)
Industry & Actor Concerns
Role of AI Actors
Creator's Perspective (Eline Van Der Velden)
AI actors like Tilly belong in a separate 'AI genre' and are not intended to replace human actors, but rather to enhance creativity and greenlight projects with reduced budgets and carbon footprints.
Industry & Actor Concerns
Concerns exist that AI actors, even if intended for a separate genre, could eventually displace human actors, diminishing the human-centered nature of creativity and threatening jobs within the industry.
Ethical Considerations and Likeness
Creator's Perspective (Eline Van Der Velden)
Tilly was created through a transparent, ethical process with significant human input, and AI creations should have copyright protection. The focus is on creating original characters, not illegally using existing likenesses.
Industry & Actor Concerns
Generative AI tools are seen by some as potentially 'stealing' work by scraping internet content. There's a need for clear guidelines on compensation and consent for using likenesses, and concern over how AI is trained on existing data.
Industry Impact and Job Security
Creator's Perspective (Eline Van Der Velden)
AI will spur a 'creative renaissance,' leading to more projects being greenlit, more jobs overall, and new opportunities for storytellers in the AI space. It's a new art form, not an obsolescence of old ones.
Industry & Actor Concerns
Many professionals fear their jobs will become obsolete due to AI. While the industry has always changed, there's immediate concern about current job losses and the difficulty for young actors to build careers if AI takes over roles.
- AI Actress Name
- Tilly Norwood
- Creator Studio
- Xicoia (offshoot of Particle6)
- Creator's Background
- Eline Van Der Velden, trained physicist and actress
- Creation Process
- Six months of iteration and creation with a team of 15 humans using various AI tools
- Future Plans
- Develop 40 diverse AI characters for the Xicoia universe
- Company Workforce
- 15 in-house employees at Particle6, planning to triple