Hollywood agencies in talks to represent AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood

Hollywood talent agencies are in talks to represent Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated performer who may soon become the first artificial actress formally signed by an agent.

The development reflects the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry, a topic central to the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes.

Tilly Norwood was created by actor, comedian, and technologist Eline van der Velden through her AI talent studio Xicoia.

Speaking at the Zurich Summit, van der Velden said that initial scepticism quickly gave way to interest from agencies. “We were in a lot of boardrooms around February time, and everyone was like, ‘No, this is nothing. It’s not going to happen.’ Then, by May, people were like, ‘We need to do something with you guys.’ When we first launched Tilly, people were like, ‘What’s that?’, and now we’re going to be announcing which agency is going to be representing her in the next few months.”

Reactions on social media were divided. Some users described the development as “bleak,” while others referenced science fiction fears about artificial intelligence. A few went as far as to call for boycotts, highlighting the unease surrounding AI entering traditional creative roles.

Norwood has been presented as a London-based actress with social media accounts and an AI-generated video introduction.

According to van der Velden, the character was built using ten different tools, including ChatGPT, and trained to “perform with nuance, emotion, and consistency.” She argued that audiences care about stories rather than whether a performer is human, while also stating that “AI won’t replace human creativity – it will amplify it.”