An active matrix liquid crystal display (1) comprises a display substrate (2) on which are formed a pixel matrix (3) and source and gate line drivers (4, 5) formed with polysilicon thin film transistors. A DC-DC converter (9) is also formed on the substrate (2) and converts an incoming supply voltage to a higher voltage needed to operate the transistors and the pixels formed on the substrate (2). The converter (9) comprises a voltage-boosting circuit (11) which is powered, at least during a start-up phase of operation of the display (1) by a photovoltaic cell (10) illuminated by a backlight (8) of the display (1). The cell (10) supplies sufficient power to the converter (9) so that it can convert the incoming supply voltage to the higher supply voltage required by the circuitry on the substrate (2). The output voltage of the circuit (11) may subsequently be used to power the circuit itself so that the backlight (8) may be switched off if it is not required for display purposes following the start-up operation.