Overview

• SAG-AFTRA issued a public statement declaring Tilly Norwood is not an actor but a computer-generated character trained on artists’ work without permission or pay.
• The AI persona was created by producer Eline Van der Velden and showcased for Xicoia/Particle6 at the Zurich Summit alongside the Zurich Film Festival.
• Actors including Melissa Barrera and Natasha Lyonne denounced the project, with calls to boycott any talent agency that seeks to represent the character.
• Van der Velden defended Tilly as an artistic creation rather than a human substitute and urged audiences to view AI characters as a separate genre.
• Social posts promoted screen tests and built an audience of more than 33,000 followers, and agency interest was described by the creator as ongoing without a confirmed representation deal.