Iranian Film Star Wins Best Actor Award at Cannes

Iranian Film Star Wins Best Actor Award at Cannes

Iranian film star Shahab Hosseini has won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

Hosseini was recognized on Sunday for his part in the movie, "The Salesman." The film tells the story of a husband shaken by the attack of his wife in their own home.

In his acceptance speech, the 42-year-old actor said the award should go not to him, but to the people of Iran.

Director Asghar Farhadi and actor Shahab Hosseini after their Cannes wins.

“This award, in a way, has come from my people,” he said. “Therefore, I return it back to them. With love and with my entire heart and soul, I dedicate this award to the people of my country.”

“The Salesman” won the best screenplay award at Cannes. The play is the work of Iranian writer and director Asghar Farhadi.​

​A few years ago, Hosseini and Farhadi worked together on another movie, called “A Separation.” The film won a Golden Globe, as well as an Oscar, for Best Foreign Language Film.

I’m Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth.

Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Editor's Note: Shahab Hosseini acted in the movie "A Separation" that won the Golden Globe. A previous version of the story incorrectly state that he won the award.

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Words in This Story

shaken – n. to cause (someone) to feel fear or shock

dedicate – v. to decide that something will be used for a special purpose; to say that something was written or is being performed to honor someone

screenplay – n. the script for a movie