A
projection screen includes a polarized-light
selective reflection layer having a cholesteric
liquid crystalline structure, capable of selectively diffuse-reflecting a specific polarized-light component; a substrate for supporting the polarized-light
selective reflection layer; and an optical member provided on the observation side of the polarized-light
selective reflection layer. The optical member diffuses imaging light which the polarized-light selective reflection layer diffuse-reflects, while maintaining the state of polarization of the imaging light. The optical member diffuses right-handed circularly polarized light that is projected on the
projection screen, when the light travels from the observation side to the polarized-light selective reflection layer. The diffused light (31a1) enters the polarized-light selective reflection layer and is diffuse-reflected owing to the scattering property of the polarized-light selective reflection layer (the property of diffusing light that is selectively reflected, owing to structural non-uniformity in the cholesteric
liquid crystalline structure containing a plurality of
helical structure parts, the
helical axes of which extend in different directions). The optical member further diffuses this diffused light (31a2) when the light travels from the polarized-light selective reflection layer toward the observation side. The thus diffused light (31a3) finally emerges toward the observation side.