Beards for solidarity

Benoit Poelvoorde as Ben the serial killer in the Belgian film Man Bites Dog. Photo / Supplied

One of Belgium's most popular actors has called on his countrymen to grow beards to protest a political stalemate that has left the country without a full government.

Benoit Poelvoorde made a television appeal to "Let your beard grow to show solidarity", following a seven-month deadlock over enacting more self-rule for Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone Wallonia.