‘Read the Room’: Actors React to Tilly Norwood, AI Star Positioned as ‘Next Scarlett Johansson’

A slew of actors voiced their anger about the AI actress Tilly Norwood, a performer who, her creators claim, is generating buzz in Hollywood.

Actor, comedian, and producer Eline Van Der Velden told a crowd at the Zurich Summit that Norwood, who is not an actual person, had piqued the interest of multiple agents, though she never specified how many. 

Norwood, Variety reports, is a product of Xicoia, an AI talent studio spun off from Particle6, Van Der Velden’s AI production studio. Van Der Velden told Broadcast International, “We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman.”

“We were in a lot of boardrooms around February time, and everyone was like, ‘No, this is nothing. It’s not going to happen.’ Then, by May, people were like, ‘We need to do something with you guys,’” Van Der Velden said. 

Melissa Barrera, who  many say was unjustly fired from the Scream franchise, shared her reaction to Norwood on Instagram. 

"Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$$,” she wrote in an Instagram story over the weekend. “How gross, read the room.”

“NOOOOOO,” Industry star Myha’la said. 

“She was a nightmare to work with!!!!” Lukas Gage joked in Deadline’s post of Norwood. “She couldn't hit her mark and she was late!“

“Out the agents. I want names,” Kiersey Clemons declared.