Image via WikipediaAFP News --- Natalie Portman won the best actress Oscar for her role in the disturbing ballet-themed thriller "Black Swan," at the 83rd Academy Awards.Portman had been frontrunner for her sexually-charged portrayal of a ballet dancer whose drive for perfection pushes her to the edge of madness. Her performance had already earned her prizes at the Golden Globes and Britain's BAFTAs.
British filmmaker Tom Hooper won the best director Oscar for historical drama "The King's Speech," at the 83rd Academy Awards.
Hooper, for whom it had been his first Oscar nomination, was an award-winning TV program maker before a big-screen career including 2009's with the soccer movie "The Damned United", starring Michael Sheen.
In other prizes, "Toy Story 3," the third instalment of the family-friendly franchise starring Woody, Buzz Lightyear and co. won best animated feature Oscar as expected.
And the best foreign film prize went to "In a Better World" by Denmark's star director Susanne Bier, who vanquished movies from Algeria, Canada, Greece and Mexico.
The Oscars is the culmination of the multi-billion movie industry's awards season and has been preceded by months or frantic campaigning for the coveted gold statuettes waiting to be handed out Sunday night.
Co-hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway started the show with a filmed skit in which they were transplanted into the main films nominated for best picture, with amusing results.
