Who is Tilly Norwood? The first AI actress who wants to conquer Hollywood
Tilly Norwood, created by the Xicoia studio, already has thousands of followers on social networks and made her debut in July participating in a comedy sketch
At a time when the entertainment industry is facing unprecedented technological transformations, a new star has burst into the audiovisual firmament: Tilly Norwood, the first artificial intelligence (AI) actress created by the Xicoia studio. Her creation is part of a decision by the innovative production studio Particle6, founded by actress, comedian and producer Eline Van der Velden.
Although her name may sound like any other up-and-coming actress, Tilly Norwood is not human. She is a digital creation, an algorithm-driven avatar, designed to act. And, against all odds, she is generating growing interest among Hollywood talent agents, studios and audiences.
Who is Tilly Norwood?
Tilly Norwood is the first “synthetic actress” developed by Xicoia, the new AI talent studio launched by Van der Velden. Her official debut came in July, when she announced her first role on her Facebook page: a comedy sketch titled 'AI Commissioner,' produced by Particle6 Productions.
In her post, Tilly—with a surprisingly human voice—wrote: “I may be AI-generated, but I’m feeling very real emotions right now. I’m so excited for what’s next!”
This relatable tone is part of the strategy behind her creation: she’s not just a technological tool, but a full-fledged media personality, with a social media presence, opinions, and a carefully crafted emotional narrative.
Why is she generating so much interest?
Interest in Tilly Norwood goes far beyond technological curiosity. According to Van der Velden, during a panel at the Zurich Summit—the industry arm of the Zurich Film Festival—multiple talent agencies have already expressed interest in representing her.
“When we launched Tilly, people were asking, 'What is that?'We’re now going to announce which agency will represent her in the coming months,” Eline Van der Velden wrote. This shift reflects a paradigm shift in the industry. Just a few months ago, many executives dismissed AI as a fad. But, as Van der Velden noted, “in February everyone was like, ‘No, this is nothing.’ By May, people were like, ‘We have to do something with you.’” Economic and creative factors are behind this shift. The budget crunch many studios are facing has opened the door to more efficient solutions, and AI represents an alternative without the physical, contractual, or logistical limitations of human actors, according to Variety. “People are realizing that their creativity doesn’t have to be limited by a budget; There are no creative restrictions,” Van der Velden explained to Broadcast International.Furthermore, the goal is not to replace humans, but to expand the narrative possibilities. “We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman,” Van der Velden said.
Is the audience ready for an AI actress?
The answer seems to be yes. As Van der Velden wrote in a LinkedIn post: “The audience? They care about the story, not whether the star has a pulse.”
Tilly Norwood already has a following, comments, and expectations. Her existence raises ethical, artistic, and labor-related questions, but also opens up a range of creative possibilities.
Particle6, the studio behind her creation, already has experience producing diverse content—from comedies like Miss Holland for BBC Three to true crime documentaries for Hearst Networks—suggesting that Tilly will not be a one-off experiment, but the face of a new generation of digital talent.
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