Dutch AI actress ignites Hollywood backlash
SAG-AFTRA says the AI character Tilly Norwood devalues artistry and threatens the livelihoods of working actors.
An AI ‘actress’ created in the Netherlands has sparked controversy across the global film industry. Tilly Norwood, designed by Dutch actress Eline van der Velde, is capable of talking, waving, and crying, and is reportedly being pitched to talent agencies.
Hollywood unions and stars have voiced strong objections. US-based SAG-AFTRA said Norwood was trained on the work of professional actors without life experience or human emotion, warning that its use could undermine existing contracts.
Actresses Natasha Lyonne and Emily Blunt also criticised the Dutch project, with Lyonne calling for a boycott of agencies working with Norwood, and Blunt describing it as ‘really scary’.
Van der Velde defended her AI creation, describing Norwood as a piece of art rather than a replacement for performers. She argued the project should be judged as a new genre rather than compared directly to human actors.
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