When the AI Actress Tilly Norwood appeared online in late September 2025, she was introduced as Hollywood’s “next big thing”—a lifelike, AI-generated digital performer with the charisma and poise of a rising star. Within days, the so-called “synthetic character” went viral, drawing fascination and fierce backlash.
The controversy deepened when the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) declared that Norwood “is not an actor,” reigniting debate about the meaning of creativity in the age of artificial intelligence.
The Creator Behind the AI Actress Controversy
Tilly Norwood was developed by Eline Van der Velden, founder of the production company Particle6, which specializes in digital media and experimental storytelling. In an interview with Variety, Van der Velden described Norwood as “a new paintbrush” for artists—a creative tool rather than a threat.
