The King's Speech reigns

King's Speech, The (2010)has been crowned best picture at the Oscars, with starColin Firthnamed best actor.

Tom Hooper was named best director for the film, which also won for best original screenplay at the ceremony.

Its best picture rival, The Social Network, won for adapted screenplay, film editing and score.Natalie Portmanwon best actress for Black Swan.

BritonChristian BaleandMelissa Leowon supporting acting awards for boxing drama The Fighter.

Firth, who had been firm favourite to win for his portrayal of King George VI battling a stammer, joked:"I have a feeling my career's just peaked."

The success of The King's Speech denied director David Fincher and his film The Social Network, the story of the creation of Facebook that was considered its closest rival at the ceremony in Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre.

Paying tribute to his film's stars, Hooper said:"Thank you to my wonderful actors, the triangle of man-love which is Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and me. I'm only here because of you guys."

Screenwriter David Seidler thanked the Queen for"not putting me in the Tower of London"for the swearing that featured in his Oscar-winning script.

The King's Speech had led the nominations, competing in 12 categories, ahead of the 10 nominations for True Grit - from which the Coen brothers' Western won nothing.

There had been eight nominations each for Inception and The Social Network, the adapted screenplay for the latter winning an Oscar for The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin.

Portman had been the favourite for the best actress prize for her performance as a disturbed ballet dancer in Black Swan.

"This is insane, and I truly, sincerely wish that the prize tonight was to get to work with my fellow nominees - I'm so in awe of you,"said the pregnant actress.

Among the women she beat to the Oscar was The Kids Are All Right actress Annette Bening, who has now been nominated four times without success.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

  WINNER: The King's Speech (2010): Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

  WINNER: Colin Firth for The King's Speech (2010)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

  WINNER: Natalie Portman for Black Swan (2010)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

  WINNER: Christian Bale for The Fighter (2010)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

  WINNER: Melissa Leo for The Fighter (2010)

Best Achievement in Directing

  WINNER: Tom Hooper for The King's Speech (2010)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

  WINNER: The King's Speech (2010): David Seidler

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

  WINNER: The Social Network (2010): Aaron Sorkin

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

  WINNER: Toy Story 3 (2010): Lee Unkrich

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

  WINNER: Civilization (2010): Susanne Bier(Denmark)

Best Achievement in Cinematography

  WINNER: Inception (2010): Wally Pfister

Best Achievement in Editing

  WINNER: The Social Network (2010): Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall

Best Achievement in Art Direction

  WINNER: Alice in Wonderland (2010): Robert Stromberg, Karen O'Hara

Best Achievement in Costume Design

  WINNER: Alice in Wonderland (2010): Colleen Atwood

Best Achievement in Makeup

  WINNER: The Wolfman (2010): Rick Baker, Dave Elsey

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

  WINNER: The Social Network (2010): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

  WINNER: Toy Story 3 (2010): Randy Newman("We Belong Together")

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

  WINNER: Inception (2010): Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

  WINNER: Inception (2010): Richard King

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

  WINNER: Inception (2010): Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb, Paul J. Franklin

Best Documentary, Features

  WINNER: Inside Job (2010): Charles Ferguson, Audrey Marrs

Best Documentary, Short Subjects

  WINNER: Strangers No More (2010): Karen Goodman, Kirk Simon

Best Short Film, Animated

  WINNER: The Lost Thing (2010): Shaun Tan, Andrew Ruhemann

Best Short Film, Live Action

  WINNER: God of Love (2010): Luke Matheny

Source