SAG-AFTRA has condemned Tilly Norwood, an AI “actress” created by Eline Van der Velden, after reports that talent agents were interested in signing the digital performer.
The union said, “Tilly Norwood is not an actor. It is a computer-generated character trained on the work of countless performers without permission or pay. It has no life experience, no emotion and audiences are not interested in content divorced from the human experience. This creates problems, not solutions; putting actors out of work and devaluing human artistry.”
Producers were also warned that using synthetic performers requires formal notice and bargaining under union contracts.
Van der Velden defended her creation as “a creative work, not a replacement for humans,” comparing AI to animation or puppetry.
Hollywood stars including Melissa Barrera, Kiersey Clemons and Mara Wilson criticised the AI online.
Whoopi Goldberg told The View, “You can always tell them from us. We move differently.”
Emily Blunt reacted with alarm in a Variety podcast, “Are you serious? That’s AI? Good Lord, we’re screwed. Please stop taking away our human connection.”
