Emily Blunt Voices alarm Over AI Actress Tilly Norwood’s Talent Agent Interest
LOS ANGELES, February 26, 2025 - Actress Emily Blunt expressed strong concern and dismay upon learning that Tilly Norwood, the first AI actress created by Xicoia, is already attracting interest from talent agencies. The revelation came during a recent interview with Variety, where Blunt was presented with details of Norwood’s unveiling over the weekend.
The emergence of Norwood, designed as a composite of familiar performers and reportedly intended to be “the next Scarlett Johansson,” underscores Hollywood’s ongoing struggle with the integration of artificial intelligence. The debate over digital likeness and AI protections was a central issue during last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, with actors demanding safeguards against the unauthorized replication of their voices and images.
“Does it disappoint me? I don’t know how to quite answer it, other than to say how terrifying this is,” Blunt stated, visibly unsettled. When shown an image of Norwood, she exclaimed, “No, are you serious? That’s an AI? Good Lord, we’re screwed. That is really, really scary. Come on, agencies, don’t do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection.”
tilly Norwood is a creation of Xicoia,an AI talent studio spun off from Eline Van der Velden’s production company Particle6.Van der Velden revealed the project at the Zurich Summit during the Zurich Film Festival, noting that other studios are developing similar AI talent.
The news has already sparked immediate backlash from other Hollywood actors, including Melissa Barrera and Lukas Gage. Blunt currently stars in “The Smashing Machine” alongside Dwayne Johnson, a film garnering early Oscar buzz after debuting at the Venice and Toronto film Festivals.
