The Artist wins big

The Artist wins big NEWS

Share this

Jean Dujardin, who won best actor, said of his character: 'If George Valentin could speak, he would say 'Wow! Victorie! Genial! Merci!''

The Artist also won best picture, best director, best costumes and best original score.

The last time a silent movie won an Oscar was 1929 when Douglas Fairbacks hosted the ceremony, tickets were just $5 and the show lasted 15 minutes.

Martin Scorsese's Hugo also won big as predicted, awarded 5 Oscars for mainly technical categories.

Unsurprisingly, Meryl Streep won best actress for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, making it her third Oscar win and 17th nomination.

She paid her dues to the Academy, thanking them 'for this inexplicably wonderful career'.

'When they called my name I had this feeling I could hear half of America going: 'Aww no. Not her again'. But, you know, whatever.

'I look out here and I see my life before my eyes. My old friends, my new friends. This is such a great honour but the thing that counts the most for me is the friendships Thank you. All of you, departed and here,' Streep added.

Canadian actor Christopher Plummer became the oldest actor to win an Academy Award at 82 by being awarded the best supporting actor prize for his role in Beginners.

The Help's Octavia Spencer accepted her best supporting actress award, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.

The best adapted screenplay award went to Alexander Payne for The Descendants, starring George Clooney.

Woody Allen was awarded best original screenplay for Midnight in Paris but was not at the ceremony to accept the award.

Rango won best animation, the wild west story of a chameleon voiced by Johnny Depp.

Iran's A Separation became the first ever Iranian film to win an Oscar.

Best film editing went to Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, while the Oscar for the best original song went to Bret Mackenzie for Man or Muppet from The Muppets.