Tilly Norwood possesses flawless skin, perfectly balanced features, and never needs a day off. Interestingly, Tilly is not a real person.
She is a digital "actress," the inaugural creation of Particle 6 Productions, a company in the UK that combines artificial intelligence with filmmaking. Her architect, Eline van der Velden, a physicist who transitioned into film production, envisions Tilly as the ideal star that production houses long for: versatile, tireless, and immune to negative publicity. "We aim for Tilly to achieve the status of a Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman," van der Velden shared with Broadcast International. "There's a growing realization that creativity need not be constrained by budgets."
The team at Xicoia, the AI talent segment of Particle 6, has meticulously crafted Tilly’s facial features and acting chops over several months using a suite of ten distinct AI programs. They’ve released footage showing Tilly performing in a range of expressions and genres—from weeping to laughing, and more. The result is a digital actress who could easily be mistaken for a BAFTA contender but can be adjusted with just a few commands.
Meet Tilly Norwood, the AI Star Stirring Up Chaos in Hollywood
The buzz in Hollywood is palpable. Van der Velden mentions that talent agencies have already expressed interest in managing this digital phenomenon. Meanwhile, the response from human actors is less enthusiastic. SAG-AFTRA has issued an alert stating, “Tilly Norwood is not an actor. The character is produced by a computer program that has been trained using the work of multiple professional actors—without any form of consent or payment.”
The union claims these digital doubles do not foster opportunity; instead, they obliterate it. “This entity has no personal experiences to draw from, no emotions,” their statement reads. “Viewers are not inclined to engage with content that lacks a connection to the human condition.”
In contrast, van der Velden offers a different perspective. Having once acted herself, she views Tilly as an innovative tool, not a competitor. Through LinkedIn, she expressed that what captivates audiences is a compelling story, not necessarily living actors. “We’re not approaching the era of synthetic actors,” she affirmed. “It has already arrived.”
AI-generated faces and influencers are already prevalent on social media platforms, but Tilly represents a shift—an initial step toward developing a digital star who could rival human actors. She requires no contracts, trailers, or rest periods. Plus, she doesn't age, which studio accountants might find irresistible. However, for audiences and actors, it marks a shift where human performers might soon become optional.
Every era gets the star it creates. Ours has designed one that cannot age, grumble, or resign. Tilly was built to remain pristine, regardless of who else might succumb to burnout, representing perhaps Hollywood’s most compelling performance yet.