Becoming Hollywood’s most controversial figure is no small feat, especially with Mel Gibson still in the picture. Yet, Tilly Norwood has managed to attract a flood of criticism before her career has even started—simply because she isn’t real.
Despite resembling a striking blend of Gal Gadot, Ana de Armas, and Vanessa Hudgens from her High School Musical days, Norwood is the invention of an AI talent studio named Xicoia. According to Xicoia, she embodies the brilliant future of filmmaking. In an age of mediocre AI content and average television, is it time for cultural snobbery to stage a comeback?
Debuting at the Zurich Film Festival, Norwood has been promoted as the next Scarlett Johansson, with studios reportedly eager to collaborate and a talent agency ready to represent her. Of course, it’s worth noting that her very existence might stir a deep unease about humanity’s future, but that’s Hollywood for you.
Actors, whose roles she threatens, have led the backlash. Melissa Barrera from Scream posted on her Instagram stories, “Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their ass,” while Mara Wilson of Matilda fame questioned, “And what about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?” Ralph Ineson of The Fantastic Four was more blunt, simply writing “Fuck off” on X.
Remarkably, Norwood’s acting portfolio consists of just one AI-generated comedy sketch, AI Commissioner. On its release day, she shared on Facebook, “I may be AI generated, but I’m feeling very real emotions right now. I am so excited for what’s coming next!”
However, reactions to the sketch vary. Technically, it’s impressive to see nearly human-like figures on screen, but it’s also unsettling, pointless, and, most critically, not funny. Watching characters with teeth that blur into a white mass is one thing; enduring poorly written, stiff dialogue is another. Plus, in the two months since its release, AI Commissioner has only garnered around 200,000 views—14 times fewer than Macaulay Culkin’s Hot Ones episode, which has 2.8 million views.
The threat, though, is real. While many in entertainment see Norwood and similar AI creations as inferior substitutes, there are countless outsiders lacking resources or, some argue, creativity to break in. This is where AI actors, writers, and directors step in. Even if it means flooding the market with subpar content, the bet is that she’s here to stay.
For some in Hollywood, Norwood represents the ideal actor: completely obedient to directors and producers, with no ego, creative input, hefty salary, or aging concerns. Imagine if she had starred in The Wizard of Oz instead of Judy Garland—Louis B. Mayer wouldn’t have needed to restrict her to chicken soup, black coffee, diet pills, and cigarettes. Isn’t that the dream?
A small comfort is that viewers ultimately decide if AI becomes a filmmaking standard. As always in Hollywood, Norwood’s career hinges on her financial success. It’s up to us whether we’re willing to pay to be unsettled by a pretty girl who can’t seem to settle on how many teeth she has.If we embrace the AI we have at any given moment, it could be with us for generations. But remember when everyone said 3D was the future of cinema after Avatar came out fifteen years ago? It only took a few bad films to kill that trend, so it’s not hard to imagine the same thing happening here.
On the bright side, we already know who the next Scarlett Johansson is. And if Hollywood is ready to bet on that, I’d like to introduce them to Mr. Bonkybum—a smiley face I just drew on a sock. He’s the next Tom Hanks, and he’s looking for a lucrative deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs about Tilly Norwood and the viral AI actor phenomenon
General Beginner Questions
1 Who or what is Tilly Norwood
Tilly Norwood is a fictional AIgenerated character who appears in short viral videos She is not a real person her face voice and mannerisms are all created by artificial intelligence
2 Why is she called an AI actor
Shes called an AI actor because she is a digital performance An AI model is acting out a script or scenario generating a realisticlooking person who can deliver lines and express emotions without a human performer
3 How is this different from a deepfake
While both use similar technology their intent is often different A deepfake typically places a real persons face onto anothers body to create a deceptive video An AI actor like Tilly is a completely original fictional character not designed to impersonate a specific real individual
4 Should I be worried about Tilly Norwood specifically
Not about Tilly herself She is a single example of the technology The concern lies in the broader capabilities of the AI that creates her and how that technology could be misused in other contexts
Deeper Concerns Implications
5 Whats the main reason people are concerned about this
The primary concern is the erosion of trust As AI actors become indistinguishable from real people it will become incredibly difficult to know if a video of a politician a celebrity or a witness is real or fabricated This could be used for misinformation scams and defamation
6 Could this technology be used for scams or fraud
Absolutely Scammers could use AI actors in fake endorsement videos create fraudulent customer service representatives or even impersonate a family member in a video call to ask for money
7 What does this mean for actors and creative jobs
It poses a significant threat to certain jobs in the entertainment industry Why hire a background actor or a voice actor for a commercial if you can generate one for a fraction of the cost This raises major ethical and economic questions for human performers
8 Is it illegal to create an AI actor like this
Currently in most places it is not illegal to create a fictional AI character However using the technology for illegal acts like
