Talent Agents Pursue AI Actress Tilly Norwood as Hollywood Tests Digital Stars
Hollywood’s relationship with artificial intelligence took a new turn at the Zurich Summit when comedian and technologist Eline Van der Velden confirmed that her AI talent studio Xicoia is in talks with major agencies to represent Tilly Norwood, a computer-generated actress. According to Deadline, several agents have expressed interest, although no representation deal has been signed.
Tilly Norwood is a hyper-realistic digital creation built with multiple AI tools to simulate voice, facial expression, and emotional nuance. Van der Velden described her as “castable and directable,” with the goal of making her suitable for film and television roles. Xicoia has launched Tilly on social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, to showcase her capabilities, but the public demonstrations so far remain limited to short clips and images.
The announcement comes less than two years after the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which brought Hollywood to a halt as writers and actors demanded protections against the unauthorized use of AI to replicate performances. The final contract included rules for digital replicas and requirements for actor consent and compensation when AI is used. Tilly Norwood’s emergence as a potential agency client tests the boundaries of those new agreements and raises questions about how union safeguards would apply to a performer with no human counterpart.
Studios have not confirmed any production deals involving Tilly, but industry observers note clear incentives. A synthetic performer does not require travel, rest, or health insurance and can be modified or updated for future projects. If agencies formally represent AI actors, they could negotiate roles, residuals, and licensing terms in the same way they would for a human client, creating a new category of contracts.
The implications for the film industry remain largely speculative. Human actors could face reduced opportunities for secondary roles or background work if AI performers become cost-effective alternatives. Hybrid productions mixing AI and live actors are possible, but audience acceptance is uncertain. Viewers have historically embraced digital effects while rejecting characters that feel artificial or emotionally flat, and public reaction to Tilly’s debut has already included backlash on social media.
Studios may see economic benefits, but they risk reputational damage if audiences or unions view synthetic casting as undermining creative labor. SAG-AFTRA leaders have stated in past negotiations that preserving human control over performances is a core priority, and future contract talks are likely to address how fully digital actors fit into existing agreements.
For now, Tilly Norwood remains a high-profile experiment. The technology to create lifelike AI performers is advancing, and agencies exploring representation signal that Hollywood is willing to test the market. Whether this leads to mainstream adoption or remains a publicity stunt will depend on how audiences respond, how unions enforce new protections, and whether studios find a sustainable balance between innovation and human artistry.