Kirsten Dunst used her acceptance speech at the Cannes Film Festival awards gala to thank members of the jury for keeping her movie Melancholia in the competition after director Lars Von Trier was banned from the French event.
The Danish moviemaker hit headlines last week ends (22May11) for making controversial comments about Nazi leader Adolf Hitler at a Cannes press conference to promote the new drama.
Festival bosses subsequently banished Von Trier and the director admitted his remarks were "completely and absolutely stupid," but the scandal failed to stem the success of Melancholia.
Dunst landed the Best Actress award for her role in the film and when she took to the stage to pick up the prize on Sunday (22May11), she praised festival bosses for keeping the movie in the contest.
She said, "Wow, what a week it's been... This is an honor that's once in a lifetime. Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival for allowing the film to still be in (the) competition...
"I want to thank Lars for giving me the opportunity to be so brave in this film. It's such a special night for me."
Tagged in Kirsten Dunst