Some of the biggest news outlets in show business published bizarre reports over the weekend claiming that certain talent agencies have been seemingly interested in signing an “AI actress” by the name of Tilly Norwood to their talent rosters. The report came from panel discussions at the Zurich Summit event involving production studios like Particle6 and creative hubs such as Dream Lab LA.
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The two biggest stories involving this “AI actress” named Tilly Norwood came from Deadline and Variety, with a flood of negative comments and reshares using the two stories to voice their indignation that such a case was being reported just like any other regular news report surrounding the entertainment industry.
Now, Hollywood talent, production staff, and enthusiasts of the industry are clapping back across social networks.
Melissa Barrera — whose controversial firing from Scream 7 is still reverberating through the industry — shared her reaction to this news on social media, which many consider to be the most noteworthy response to the controversy so far.
“Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$. How gross, read the room,” Barrera wrote in an Instagram Story.
\u200bMelissa Barrera via Instagram Story
Instagram (@melissabarreram)
Melissa Barrera via Instagram Story.
Numerous actors and performers reacted to the news by leaving comments under the Instagram post from Deadline reporting this story.
Mara Wilson shared a comment that posed a question, “And what about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?”
“Stop calling this an actress,” BenDeLaCreme wrote in response to the post.
Lukas Gage commented, “She couldn’t hit her mark and she was late!”
Hollywood stars have shared comments under the viral Instagram post reporting on this story
Instagram (@deadline)
Hollywood stars have shared comments under the viral Instagram post reporting on this story.
Entertainment reporter and podcaster Tommy DiDario wrote, I will never interview a ‘Tilly’ on any of my shows.”
A thumbs down was left by Brandon Flynn.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez wrote, “Not an actress actually nice try.”
Hollywood stars have shared comments under the viral Instagram post reporting on this story
Instagram (@deadline)
Hollywood stars have shared comments under the viral Instagram post reporting on this story.
Emmy-nominated actress and queer icon Natasha Lyonne also shared the original Instagram post from Deadline via Instagram Story. Lyonne covered the AI actress’s face with vomit emojis and wrote:
“Any talent agency that engages in this should be boycotted by all guilds. Deeply misguided & totally disturbed. Not the way. Not the vibe. Not the use.”
\u200bNatasha Lyonne via Instagram Story
Instagram (@nlyonne)
Natasha Lyonne via Instagram Story.
Comedian, actor, influencer, and recording artist Jordan Firstman wrote (satirical post):
“I worked with Tilly. Hell of an actress but super racist and hated kids. Also she fucked our gaffer in front of the entire crew at the wrap party. She’s got real star power but definitely a liability.”
Jordan Firstman via Instagram Story
Instagram (@jtfirstman)
Jordan Firstman via Instagram Story.
Actress Trace Lysette also shared a more humorous comment at first, which she then followed up with a more serious reaction.
“In all seriousness tho this is really gross,” Lysette wrote via Instagram Story. “So many of us live gig to gig already. Please don’t entertain this Al actor mess.”
\u200bTrace Lysette via Instagram Story
Instagram (@tracelysette)
Trace Lysette via Instagram Story.
Writer and actor Ryan O’Connell also used sense of humor to react to the news, but less so in a way that made light of the circumstances. O’Connell wrote via Instagram Story:
“Me spending 48 hours in nature with no reception and getting dick-slapped by this headline.”
Ryan O’Connell via Instagram Story
Instagram (@ryanoconn)
Ryan O’Connell via Instagram Story.
François Arnaud, best known as an actor from The Borgias, Yellowjackets, Blindspot, and Twinless, wrote:
“I hear she’s a massive asshole.”
\u200bFran\u00e7ois Arnaud via Instagram Story
Instagram (@francoisarnaud)
François Arnaud via Instagram Story.
Jimmy Fowlie, a comedian, actor, and writer whose credits include The Other Two, Go-Go Boy Interrupted, English Teacher, and three seasons of Saturday Night Live, shared an Instagram Reel to voice his dislike — and confusion — surrounding the news that Hollywood agencies are reportedly interested in signing Norwood to their rosters.
“So obviously we’ve all been hearing about this: The AI actress that Hollywood agents want to sign. Which I kind of feel like that’s not real?” Fowlie reflected. “What would you even be signing? The programmer, or something? Like, you would own the rights to her image…?”
Fowlie concluded, “But I guess my question is — and I wonder if anyone’s talking about this — but… Can she do improv? Like, seriously though… Can she? Do improv?”
Niklaus Miller, a video editor and screenwriter, also shared a funny Instagram Reel claiming to know the actress and having heard from multiple people that Norwood is “a nightmare to work with.” He also alleged that Norwood used to have an X/Twitter account that has since been deleted due to having numerous problematic posts.
Miller concluded the video saying that even though he supports women’s rights, this case is just different. (Again, the entire video clearly aimed to criticize this situation with a sense of humor.)
Several posts about this controversy also went viral on X/Twitter.
@a_themanuscript wrote, “We cannot normalize this. Acting is a centuries old art and we cannot lose it to AI.”
As of this writing, the post had surpassed 2.2 million views and received 128,000 likes.
Actor Ralph Ineson (@ralphineson) wrote on X:
“Fuck off.”
“Wow, good thing SAG went on strike for all that time!” Grace Randolph wrote.
Luke Barnett theorized that the news itself felt suspicious, writing:
“Shame on Variety for even using the term ‘AI Actress.’ This is all such a flagrant PR grift. I guarantee no real agency is ‘circling her.’ Get outta here with this garbage.”
Caroline Renard remarked, “AI actress. What the hell are we even doing?”
Josh Tenet kept things straightforward, writing on X:
“Fuck off fuck off fuck off fuck off fuck off fuck off fuck off.”
“The concept of signing an AI actress,” Jonathan Fujii mused in an X post.
“What — and I cannot stress this enough — the fuck?” Maggie Lovitt wrote.
A lengthy response has already been shared on the official Instagram account for this AI persona called Tilly Norwood.
For context, Norwood has over 6,300 followers and has “she,” “it,” and “her” as preferred pronouns. “You’ll either get it or pretend you don’t,” the rest of Norwood’s Instagram bio reads. “I’m a creation. #aiart. Actress (aspiring). London (mostly in cafés). Mild chaos, major delusions.”
Social media profile created for AI persona Tilly Norwood on Instagram
Instagram (@tillynorwood)
Social media profile created for AI persona Tilly Norwood on Instagram.
The Linktree link shown in bio does lead to an actual Linktree page for Tilly Norwood. However, the Linktree only connects to two social platforms: Instagram itself, and Pinterest.
As of this writing, Norwood’s Pinterest profile doesn’t have any pins or boards — none created, and none saved. The page only features a bio that reads:
“My name is Tilly Norwood and I am an aspiring actress!”
\u200bSocial media profile created for AI persona Tilly Norwood on Pinterest
Pinterest (@tillynorwood)
Social media profile created for AI persona Tilly Norwood on Pinterest.
And yet, because an actual actress called Tilly Norwood does not exist — and, therefore, wasn’t a real person whose career was on the line, saw the backlash happening firsthand, drafted a written response to speak for herself, and posted it on social media to clear the air — the statement was instead attributed to Eline Van der Velden: The Dutch writer, actress, and producer who spoke about developing Tilly Norwood at the Zurich Summit, and who claimed that talent agents are already showing interest in signing this digital persona.
The statement reads:
“To those who have expressed anger over the creation of our Al character, Tilly Norwood: she is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a piece of art. Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity.
I see Al not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool – a new paintbrush. Just as animation, puppetry, or CG opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting, Al offers another way to imagine and build stories. I’m an actor myself, and nothing – certainly not an Al character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance.
Creating Tilly has been, for me, an act of imagination and craftsmanship, not unlike drawing a character, writing a role or shaping a performance. It takes time, skill, and iteration to bring such a character to life. She represents experimentation, not substitution. Much of my work has always been about holding up a mirror to society through satire, and this is no different.
also believe Al characters should be judged as part of their own genre, on their own merits, rather than compared directly with human actors. Each form of art has its place, and each can be valued for what it uniquely brings.”
Eline Van der Velden closed the statement with, “I hope we can welcome Al as part of the wider artistic family,” adding: “One more way to express ourselves, alongside theatre, film, painting, music, and countless others.”
“When we celebrate all forms of creativity, we open doors to new voices, new stories, and new ways of connecting with each other,” the statement officially wrapped, and signed by “Eline.”
This story is still developing…
This article originally appeared on Out: Hollywood celebs react to AI ‘actress’ Tilly Norwood controversy—AI persona responds
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
