Cannes festival winner greeted at polls

Turkish star Merve Dizdar was given a hero's welcome at a polling station in Istanbul, a day after winning best actress at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Dizdar was handed flowers and loudly cheered and clapped as she arrived to cast her vote. 

She became Turkey’s first woman to win the top acting prize at Cannes, for her performance in About Dry Grasses.

During her acceptance speech last night, Dizdar hailed Turkish women fighting for their rights. 

She said she dedicated the award to her “sisters” who “take action to strengthen the struggle of women” and fight for “the good days they deserve in Turkey.”

“My character Nuray is a woman who struggles for her beliefs and existence and has to pay a price for this cause,” Dizdar added.

“Being a woman in the place I live requires knowing the feelings of Nuray by heart since the day I was born.”

The speech angered some pro-government figures, who accused her of bad-mouthing the country.