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The King's Speech was crowned Best Picture of the year at the 83rd Academy Awards. The little British film that could scooped four of the biggest awards of the evening from its 12 nominations: for Best Picture, Best Actor for Colin Firth, Best Original Screenplay for David Seidler and best director for Tom Hooper. The Social Network, tipped by many, came away with three Oscars. True Grit, regarded as the dark horse of the ceremony, faltered at the final hurdle and came home with nothing.
Firth was the clear favourite going into the ceremony, having previously picked up prizes at the Baftas and the Golden Globes. The 50-year-old actor was nominated last year for his turn in Tom Ford's A Single Man only to lose out to Jeff Bridges. But last night, the tables were turned. Firth emerged victorious in a category that included Bridges (True Grit), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), James Franco (127 Hours) and Javier Bardem (Biutiful). Firth thanked, "all the people who have been rooting for me back home,' and his wife, "Livia, for putting up with my fleeting delusions of royalty."
In the other categories, a tearful Natalie Portman picked up the Best Actress award for Black Swan, and The Fighter won the Best Supporting Sctor award for Christian Bale and Best Supporting Actress award for Melissa Leo. Toy Story 3 won Best Animated Film, while Randy Newman took Best Song.
But there was a more muted reception for new (younger) hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway . And the frocks? Ladies in red lead the way, while nude gowns continued their 2011 red carpet success run. See our full red carpet coverage here.
83rd Annual Academy Awards: Winners
Best Picture
The King's Speech
Best Director
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech
Best Actress
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Best Actor
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
Best Supporting Actress
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Best Supporting
Christian Bale - The Fighter
Best Original Screenplay
The King's Speech - David Seidler
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin
Best Animated Film
Toy Story 3
Best Foreign Film
In a Better World
Best Song
We Belong Together from Toy Story 3 – by Randy Newman
Best Costume Design
Alice in Wonderland – Colleen Atwood
Best Cinematography
Inception – Wally Pfister