AI-Generated Actress Sparks Outcry, Deepens Hollywood Anxiety Over Job Security
Zurich, Switzerland – September 6, 2025 – A digitally created actress named tilly Norwood is poised to be represented by a major talent agency, igniting a firestorm of controversy and escalating anxieties within Hollywood regarding teh impact of artificial intelligence on the entertainment industry.
Norwood, the creation of tech entrepreneur Nonny Van der Velden, has been showcased in a variety of digitally rendered scenes, including action sequences and futuristic cityscapes. van der Velden announced on saturday at an industry panel in Zurich that an agency deal is imminent, stating, “With Tilly, you know, when we frist launched her, people were like, ‘That’s not going to happen.’ And now, we’re going to announce which agency is going to be representing her in the next few months. It’s all changing and everyone is starting to see the light, fortunately.”
The move comes as AI’s presence in entertainment grows. In 2024, the Japanese digital character Hatsune Miku performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and an AI model was featured in the August issue of Vogue magazine for L.A. brand Guess. Studios are also exploring AI applications, with Lionsgate partnering with AI startups for storyboarding and Netflix and Amazon MGM Studios utilizing AI in visual effects for various series.
However, the rise of AI in Hollywood is not without legal challenges. Tech companies argue that training AI models on publicly available content falls under “fair use” doctrine. But major studios – Disney, Global, and Warner Bros. Discovery – recently filed lawsuits against AI companies alleging copyright infringement.
The potential representation of Norwood has triggered a backlash from actors. “Read the room, how gross,” In the Heights actor Melissa Barrera wrote on Instagram. Some actors are calling for a boycott of any agencies that choose to represent the AI actress,citing a conflict of interest.
“Our members reserve the right to not be in business with representatives who are operating in an unfair conflict of interest,who are operating in bad faith,” said duncan Astin,a representative for actors concerned about the issue.
