The unveiling of Tilly Norwood, the world’s first AI actress, ignited a firestorm. Dutch comedian Eline Van der Velden brought Tilly to life at the Zurich Film Festival, but the applause was quickly drowned out by a chorus of outrage.
The core of the controversy? Fears that AI performers would steal work from human actors, devaluing artistry and jeopardizing livelihoods. Powerful voices – Emily Blunt, Natasha Lyonne, Sophie Turner, Toni Colette – joined the outcry, amplifying the anxieties sweeping through Hollywood.
But the backlash took a dark turn. Van der Velden, the creator behind Tilly, began receiving death threats. The intensity escalated to the point where she was forced to file police reports, a chilling consequence of a debate gone too far.
“They say there’s no humanity behind it, and then they go after the human behind it,” Van der Velden remarked, a stark observation on the vitriol directed her way. Despite the threats, she revealed a surprising undercurrent of support from within the industry.
Behind closed doors, numerous directors and Hollywood figures have reached out, expressing interest in collaborating with Tilly. While unwilling to name names, Van der Velden insists the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, a hidden wave of curiosity beneath the public condemnation.
The narrative began to shift as some realized the full story. Publicist Michelle Waldron noted that initial headlines fueled the outrage, but a deeper understanding revealed Tilly’s potential as a creative tool. “People got swept away without reading the full story,” she explained.
Van der Velden is adamant: Tilly isn’t meant to replace actors, but to offer a new form of entertainment. She encourages critics to embrace the playful nature of the project, emphasizing that AI, in this instance, is simply “a bit funny.”
Crucially, Tilly isn’t entirely artificial. Van der Velden clarifies she *is* the actress, performing through a digital proxy. The AI wasn’t trained on existing performances, but on publicly available footage, like home videos, alleviating concerns about stolen work.
Her vision extends beyond mere novelty. Van der Velden believes AI can empower actors, offering a way to “future-proof” their careers by embracing emerging technologies. She envisions a collaborative landscape, not a competitive one.
The initial frenzy saw talent agents vying to represent Tilly, prompting further criticism. Yet, Van der Velden maintains her intention is not to displace human actors, but to create a distinct space for AI characters, with “clear distinctions and expectations.”
“I think Tilly should stay in a world that doesn’t inhabit real actors,” she stated, reassuringly. “Don’t worry – we’ll still have human actors. That was always the plan.”
Not everyone shares the apprehension. Chris Pratt, for example, dismissed the concerns as “bulls*,” confidently asserting that AI won’t replace him. He openly questioned the hype surrounding Tilly, stating, “I’ve never seen her in a movie.”
Van der Velden consistently frames Tilly as a creative work, a spark for conversation, and a new artistic medium. She likens AI to animation or CGI – tools that expand storytelling possibilities without diminishing the value of live performance.
“Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity,” Van der Velden explained. “AI characters should be judged as part of their own genre, on their own merits.”
Ultimately, Van der Velden sees AI not as a threat, but as a “new paintbrush,” offering a fresh way to imagine and build stories, a testament to the enduring power of human imagination, even when channeled through artificial intelligence.
