Hollywood A-listers slam AI actress that's being dubbed ‘the next Scarlett Johansson’

Hollywood A-listers have reacted with fury after an 'actress' generated by AI was called the 'next Scarlett Johansson'.

Meet Tilly Norwood, an up-and-coming actress who has already sparked interest from talent agents who want to hire her.

Except 'Tilly' does not exist.

Yes, she is an AI-generated fake profile put together by comedian Eline Van der Velden.

After gaining traction on several social media profiles, which are labeled as AI, 'Tilly' was even hailed as 'the next Scarlett Johansson'.

This has sparked outrage from artists, including big Hollywood names, who are furious that someone has publicized an AI-generated profile in this way.

Many took to social media to share their anger and disapproval of Van der Velden.

Mara Wilson, of Matilda, raised a crucial point, writing: “And what about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?”

Meanwhile, Melissa Barrera said she thought there should be boycotts aimed at agencies which had bought into this, writing: “Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$$.

"How gross, read the room."

This was echoed by Kiersey Clemons, who wrote: "Out the agents. I want names.”

Van der Velden has since responded to the backlash against her, defiantly defending her actions.

A post on her Instagram page said: "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.

"Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity."

She added: "I’m an actor myself, and nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance", and argued that Tilly 'represents experimentation, not substitution'.

But others have drawn attention to the many concerning aspects of generative AI, including the environmental impact, as well as the sadly age-old debate around how women's bodies and agency are represented in film and TV.

One wrote: "Ravaging our ecosystem to build a girl who can't age or say no."

Another drew attention to how show-business has 'manufactured' female stars before - frequently at huge personal cost to the woman herself.

"They’ve done this plenty of times before - Brittany, Miley, Taylor… but now they won’t get older and lose their mind, or so we hope," they wrote.

And one person pointed out that simply 'sparking conversation' isn't enough by itself, writing: "Mimicry of art without empathy is empty. This AI 'actress' is no 'piece of art.' It’s a fraudulent misrepresentation of what art is.

"Also art isn’t defined by sparking conversation alone."