Dame Helen Mirren has been named best actress at the Academy Awards for her performance in The Queen.

"All kids love to get gold stars, and this is the biggest and the best gold star that I have ever had," she said.

Martin Scorsese's crime drama The Departed won four Oscars, including best picture, while the film-maker won his first best directing honour.

Alan Arkin won best supporting actor for Little Miss Sunshine, which also picked up best original screenplay.

Jennifer Hudson was named best supporting actress for her first film role, in the musical Dreamgirls.

The adapted screenplay prize went to the script for The Departed, which also won for editing.

The best actor Oscar went to Forest Whitaker, who had been favourite to triumph for his performance as the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.

Source: Press Release