Iranian actor Taraneh Alidoosti released on bail: media

Iranian actor Taraneh Alidoosti, jailed for almost three weeks over her support for the country's protest movement, was released on bail on Wednesday, local media reported.

Iran has been gripped by protests since the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd who was arrested for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code.

Iranian authorities say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested in what they generally describe as "riots", accusing hostile foreign powers and opposition groups of stoking the unrest.

Alidoosti, 38, was arrested on December 17 after making a string of social media posts supporting the protest movement -- including removing her headscarf and condemning the execution of protesters.

"My client was released on bail today", lawyer Zahra Minooee told ISNA news agency Wednesday.

Alidoosti has considerable international renown, performing in award-winning films by director Asghar Farhadi, including the Oscar-winning 2016 film "The Salesman".

Alidoosti appeared in two of Farhadi's earliest films before he won international renown, "Beautiful City" in 2004 and "Fireworks Wednesday" in 2006.

She then appeared in the 2009 film "About Elly", which earned Farhadi the Silver Bear for best director at the Berlin film festival, before reuniting for "The Salesman".

Rights groups and celebrities abroad including hundreds of high-profile figures from the global cinema industry had called for her to be freed.

The reformist newspaper Shargh published pictures on Telegram showing Alidoosti purportedly after her release from the Evin prison in northern Tehran.

Alidoosti is seen smiling as she talks on a mobile phone while holding a bouquet of flowers, surrounded by supporters, according to the paper.