Tilly Norwood’s creator insists the AI actor is creating Hollywood jobs

Comedic actor and producer Eline Van der Velden, known for creating the AI-generated “actor” Tilly Norwood, argues that Norwood is a job creator rather than a threat to employment. Since Norwood’s introduction in July 2025, Van der Velden’s production company, Particle6, has expanded significantly, hiring more actors, creative producers, and writers. Van der Velden acknowledges the potential risks AI poses to jobs, including her own, but emphasizes the importance of leveraging AI to future-proof her business. Despite offers for Norwood to appear in traditional films, Van der Velden insists on keeping her in AI-specific roles to preserve opportunities for human actors. Norwood’s upcoming film, “Misaligned,” is a digital coming-of-age story featuring AI-generated characters. However, Norwood has faced criticism from groups like SAG-AFTRA, who argue that AI-generated characters threaten the livelihoods of human performers by using their work without permission or compensation. QUESTION: How might the rise of AI-generated characters like Tilly Norwood impact the future of the entertainment industry and the roles available to human actors?