American Marconi Wireless News - Cannes best actress Melliti is football player spotted in street

Melliti beat Hollywood stars Jennifer Lawrence and Elle Fanning to the award, with many critics also lauding Japanese child revelation Yui Suzuki in "Renoir".

Before walking the red carpet for the premiere of Hafsia Herzi's "The Little Sister", she was preparing for exams.

In the coming-of-age tale, she plays 17-year-old Fatima, a Muslim girl in Paris struggling with her identity and religion as she explores her homosexuality.

"I've never done any theatre or cinema," she told AFP.

But she said she immediately empathised with the character when she read the script, based on a partly autobiographical novel of the same name by French writer Fatima Daas.

"I identified hugely with Fatima, her surroundings and origins. My mother hails from an immigrant background," she said.

"My roots are Algerian. I also have sisters."

Melliti said she specifically related to the film's theme of "emancipation" in the film.

"When I was younger I wanted to play football. I still do today," said the actor. "I wanted to take up the sport, one people say is masculine and in which men are overrepresented."

"And when I took that home, there was this emancipation -- even if for Fatima it was different, more linked to her intellect and sexuality," she added.

- 'I hope you are very proud' -

Melliti said she couldn't believe her luck when she was spotted by a casting agent in the street near a large shopping mall in central Paris.

"I was walking in the street and (she) called out to me," she said.

At first "I thought she was a tourist and I wondered if my English would be up to scratch."

Melliti was visibly moved as she received the prize in Cannes.

"I have such a feeling gushing through me right now. I can't describe it but it's really incredible," she said as the director -- an award-winning actor herself for films like "The Secret of the Grain" -- sobbed in the audience.

"Thank you Mum. I know you're watching and I hope you are very proud and happy," Melliti said.

S.Gregor--AMWN