The prospect of an artificial intelligence-generated actress receiving representation from a talent agency has stirred considerable unease within Hollywood, with prominent actors including Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera, and Lukas Gage expressing strong criticism. This backlash emerged in response to claims made over a recent weekend at a Zurich summit regarding AI talent’s growing presence in the entertainment industry.
Eline Van der Velden, a Dutch actress, comedian, and digital producer who created the AI character Norwood, declared that the AI actress is expected to be signed by an agency within the coming months. This announcement has ignited a debate about the future of acting careers and the role artificial intelligence may play in replacing human performers.
Concerns Over AI’s Impact on Human Actors
Melissa Barrera publicly condemned the idea on Instagram, urging actors represented by any agency that signs an AI actor to sever ties. Barrera’s blunt remarks underscored the anger many feel about what they perceive as a dehumanizing trend in the industry.
Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$$,
Melissa Barrera, Actress
How gross, read the room.
Melissa Barrera, Actress
The reaction highlights a broader apprehension that AI is encroaching on creative professions, threatening jobs traditionally held by humans. The notion of AI-generated characters gaining traction with talent representatives feeds into fears that no actor’s role is guaranteed safe from digital replacement.
AI Talent’s Ambitions and Industry Skepticism
Van der Velden expressed her aspirations for Norwood, hoping the AI actress might become as successful as Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman. She emphasized that the audience’s response will ultimately determine AI’s viability in entertainment, claiming that viewers care more about the story than whether the performer is human.
the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman.
Eline Van der Velden, Creator
Audiences care about the story — not whether the star has a pulse,
Eline Van der Velden, Creator
Yet, many within Hollywood remain unconvinced by this argument, openly questioning whether an AI character can truly replicate the depth and authenticity expected by audiences. Social media has become a platform for actors to voice their skepticism and frustration.
Actors Voice Frustration With AI Replacements
Nicholas Alexander Chavez, recognized for his role in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, dismissed Norwood as not a real actress, while Lukas Gage, known for Road House, called working with the AI a “nightmare.”
Not an actress actually,
Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Actor
Nice try.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Actor
She was a nightmare to work with,
Lukas Gage, Actor
Simu Liu, star of Shang Chi, also expressed doubt, sarcastically imagining a future where movies replace human actors with AI replicas that only approximate human emotions.
Movies are great but you know what would be better is if the characters in them weren’t played by actual humans but by AI replicas approximating human emotion,
Simu Liu, Actor
Industry Critique and Ethical Questions Raised
Screenwriter Brian Duffield highlighted the unsettling implication that the industry’s first use of AI talent is centered on creating a controllable teenage girl figure. Social media users echoed similar concerns about the motives behind this new technology in entertainment.
Pretty telling that the industries first venture into this was to create a teenage girl they could control,
Brian Duffield, Screenwriter
Mara Wilson, known for Maltilda, questioned the ethical issues around the AI actress’s creation, pointing out that Norwood’s digital face was reportedly composed from hundreds of living young women’s faces, asking why any of those women could not be hired instead.
What about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?
Mara Wilson, Actress
AI Character Norwood’s Online Presence and Future Prospects
Currently, Norwood maintains a modest online following, with just over 19,000 followers on Instagram and limited engagement on Facebook. There is no confirmation from Van der Velden regarding which talent agencies are involved, nor whether major Hollywood agencies will represent the AI character.
Van der Velden recently launched Xicoia, an AI talent studio, signaling her ongoing commitment to advancing AI presence within entertainment. This development raises important questions about how AI actors might redefine creative labor and representation moving forward.
Potential Ripple Effects on the Entertainment Industry
The intense response from established actors like Simu Liu and others illustrates the rising tension between human performers and AI technology in Hollywood. As AI-generated characters begin to enter industry pipelines, the debate over authenticity, performance, and employment security is likely to escalate. What emerges in the coming months will reveal how deeply AI will integrate into creative fields and how Hollywood balances innovation with preserving human artistry.
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