Emily Blunt called the recent news about an AI-generated actress known as Tilly Norwood “terrifying.” On Saturday, Sept. 27, Eline Van der Velden, who recently launched an artificial intelligence talent studio called Xicoia, shared at an event that they have created Tilly Norwood and that she was in talks with several talent agencies to sign Norwood in the near future.
Since then, many have voiced their objections to the news, while Van der Velden offered an additional statement, defending the development of Norwood as “a new tool, a new paintbrush.” She added that she views Tilly Norwood as a work of art, and like many works of art, “she sparks conversation.”
Blunt recently made it clear where she stands in that conversation. In a story from Variety, Blunt was told about Norwood for the first time during the recording of an upcoming podcast with Variety. When asked if the news disappointed her, she said the only way that she knew how to answer that question right now was to say “how terrifying this is.“
After being shown a picture of Tilly Norwood, Blunt’s reaction included a plea to talent agencies:
““No, are you serious? That’s an AI? Good Lord, we’re screwed. That is really, really scary, Come on, agencies, don’t do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection.”
Blunt then said she believes Norwood was designed to be a kind of composite of well-known actors, saying, “They want her to be the next Scarlett Johansson, but we have Scarlett Johansson.”
What This Means For Hollywood
The question of AI’s use in Hollywood was a point of contention in the 2023 writers and actors’ strikes that shut Hollywood down for months. It appears that fight is not over.
Blunt is one of many actors that have spoken out against Tilly Norwood in the days since the AI actress initially made headlines. Others have included Melissa Barrera and Mara Wilson. However, when someone with a presence like Blunt, an Oscar-nominated actress, offers an opinion, it will definitely draw more attention.
- Birthdate
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February 23, 1983
- Birthplace
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Wandsworth, London, England, UK
As noted when Sean Astin was elected SAG-AFTRA president, negotiations for another contract between the actors and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are expected to begin in 2026. AI could once again be a key issue.
Our Take On Blunt’s Reaction To Tilly Norwood
Hollywood, like many industries, has to figure out what they are going to do with AI. The technology is still so new, and its potential so vast, it’s admittedly not an easy thing to square up. Right now, I side with Blunt that an AI actress with representation is a scary notion in Hollywood.
To be fair, I don’t entirely disagree with Van der Velden, either. AI can be a potential tool for many industries, including Hollywood. Yet there are great risks in potentially throwing something like this out there without guardrails. We shouldn’t let the genie out of the bottle before we have a better idea of what we want to do with it.