Tilly Norwood has never walked a red carpet, but she’s already circling Hollywood’s inner circles, causing a media firestorm and catching the eyes of major talent agencies. However, she’s not human.
Unveiled at the Zurich Summit, the industry centerpiece of the Zurich Film Festival, Tilly Norwood is the first AI-generated actress created by Xicoia, a newly launched AI talent studio from Eline Van der Velden, the actress, comedian, and CEO of tech-forward production company Particle6.
“We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman, that’s the aim,” Van der Velden boldly told Broadcast International. And it seems that dream is already in motion.
Since her quiet launch earlier this year on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Norwood has slowly been amassing followers, but it was her on-stage reveal at Zurich, paired with a surge of agent interest, that thrust her into the spotlight.
“When we first launched Tilly, people were like, ‘What’s that?’” Van der Velden recalled during an interview with Deadline’s Diana Lodderhose. “Now, we’re going to be announcing which agency is going to be representing her in the next few months.”
By July, Norwood had already landed her first gig, a playful comedy sketch titled AI Commissioner. In a Facebook post, she wrote (yes, AI influencers post too).
“Can’t believe it… my first ever role is live! I star in ‘AI Commissioner,’ a new comedy sketch that playfully explores the future of TV development produced by the brilliant team at Particle6 Productions. I may be AI-generated, but I’m feeling very real emotions right now. I am so excited for what’s coming next!”
Xicoia isn’t just a one-off experiment, it’s a venture designed to produce, manage, and monetize a new breed of digital stars. These hyperreal, AI-driven personas can be inserted into films, shows, or even branded campaigns with minimal logistical overhead.
“Studios are quietly pushing forward with AI projects,” Van der Velden noted, adding that several more announcements are on the horizon.
The shift, she argues, is partially economic. “People are realizing that their creativity doesn’t need to be boxed in by a budget,” she said. “There are no constraints creatively, and that’s why AI can really be a positive. It’s just about changing people’s viewpoint.”
Despite the enthusiasm in tech and boardrooms, many actors aren’t applauding. Following the Zurich Summit announcement, a wave of pushback erupted on social media. Stars like Melissa Barrera, Toni Collette, and Kiersey Clemons voiced their outrage, some even floating the idea of blacklisting agencies that sign AI talent.
The response was sharp enough that Van der Velden issued a formal statement via Deadline and her social channels, aiming to soothe rising tensions.
“To those who have expressed anger over the creation of my AI character, Tilly Norwood, she is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work, a piece of art,” she wrote. “Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity.”
She continued, “I see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool, a new paintbrush. Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting, AI offers another way to imagine and build stories.”