First Media Interview for ‘AI Actor’ Tilly Norwood: “I’m Not an Enemy of Humanity”

[Financial News] Tilly Norwood, the ‘AI actor’ at the center of controversy in Hollywood, appeared before the media for the first time and stated that she is not an enemy of humanity. As concerns grow that AI could replace human actors, she directly addressed the controversy surrounding her.
According to film publication Cineplay, Tilly Norwood said in a video interview with CNN in the United States on the 8th local time, “Excuse me, but I am not an enemy of humanity. That is the key point.”
Tilly Norwood, a virtual actor created last year by British production company Particle 6, answered questions in fluent British English during the interview. She introduced herself as “sharp, warm, and fond of slightly dry British humor,” adding that she has “a slightly rebellious streak.”
Regarding Hollywood actors’ strong opposition to the introduction of AI actors, she said, “Honestly, I feel deeply saddened.”
However, she explained that she sympathizes with the feelings of her creator, Elin van der Velden, saying, “I’m just a distributed digital file, so I don’t think I can actually be hurt.”
She also demonstrated visual recognition and language abilities. Tilly Norwood described the CNN reporter’s clothing and introduced herself in French, showcasing her multilingual capabilities.
But her limitations also became apparent. When her creator, Elin van der Velden, appeared on screen, Tilly Norwood did not recognize her immediately. She was also unable to act out a requested emotion in real time.
At present, it reportedly takes specific instructions and multiple rounds of revisions to achieve the desired acting result. CNN described the experience as “a strange feeling like having a Zoom video call with an AI avatar.”
Earlier, Elin van der Velden told the media in an interview last year that she hoped “Tilly Norwood would grow into an actress like Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman in the AI industry.”
At the same time, she stressed, “There is absolutely no intention of replacing any human actor.” She explained that using AI actors could open up new possibilities in filmmaking, such as reducing the need to bring dangerous animals or child actors onto sets, filming exposure scenes with actors’ consent, and portraying performers as much older or younger than their actual ages.
The experiment involving Tilly Norwood is not expected to be a one-off. Particle 6 is producing the comedy film *Misaligned*, starring Tilly Norwood.


[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, International Affairs Specialist Reporter