Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar, the 34 year old star picking up the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance as a passionate artist in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
As widely predicted, the British film Slumdog Millionaire was the hit of the night, picking up eight Oscars including those for Best Film and Best Director.
Predictably, Kate Winslet was awarded the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance as a Nazi prison officer in The Reader. It was her sixth nomination for an award, so you can’t say she hasn’t been trying to win one.
The only surprise of the evening was Sean Penn winning the Best Actor award for his portrayal of the gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the film Milk.
The full list of winners at the 81st Academy Awards:
Best picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best director: Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
Best actor: Sean Penn – Milk
Best actress: Kate Winslet – The Reader
Best supporting actor: Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best original screenplay: Milk
Best adapted screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire
Best animated feature film: Wall-E
Best animated short film: La Maison en Petits Cubes
Best foreign language film: Departures – Japan
Best documentary feature: Man on Wire
Best documentary short subject: Smile Pinki
Art direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Costume design: The Duchess
Make-up: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
Best live action short film: Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Visual effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sound editing: The Dark Knight
Sound mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
Film editing:Slumdog Millionaire
Best original score: Slumdog Millionaire
Best original song: Jai Ho – Slumdog Millionaire