With AI character Tilly Norwood set for feature-film debut, Hollywood debates what it means to be an actor

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Set us as preferred For most of Hollywood’s history, the word “actor” has required little explanation.Actors search for emotional truth in imaginary lives.

They collaborate with directors and scene partners, endure 4 a.m.call times and, if everything goes right, thank their agents while collecting awards.Tilly Norwood has done none of those things.

That’s because Tilly exists only as code and pixels.Last week’s announcement that Tilly — the AI-generated character that debuted last year amid fierce backlash from actors and unions — would star in an upcoming feature called “Misaligned” sparked a debate not only about AI’s impact on Hollywood jobs but about something even more basic: What, exactly, is Tilly? Some objected to referring to the digital character as “she” or “her.” Others rejected the idea that Tilly could be described as an actor at all.Entertainment & Arts The AI revolution is reshaping the creative foundations of Hollywood — from storytelling and performance to production, labor and power.

In Hollywood Tomorrow, we explore its impact from all angles.The debate quickly spilled into readers’ comments on The Times’ coverage of the project.One commenter urged journalists to “stop writing about this thing like it’s a person.” Another asked, “How is this not just an animated film?” A third objected: “She is NOT an AI Actor, she is an AI Software Program.” But not everyone recoiled.

“I’ll buy a ticket,” one reader wrote.“She’s very pretty.”Taken together, the reactions exposed just how unsettled the language around AI has become.

Nobody has ever confused Woody from “Toy Story” with Tom Hanks or Elsa from “Frozen” with Idina Menzel, or suggested the characters themselves deserved acting awards.The Tilly concept is testing whether those assumption...