British film The King’s Speech has been crowned best picture at the Oscars, with star Colin Firth named 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 Portman won best actress for Black Swan.
Briton Christian Bale and Melissa Leo won 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 was at the expense of director David Fincher and his film The Social Network – about the founding of Facebook – 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.
During his acceptance speech, for The Fighter, Bale said: “What a room full of talented, inspirational people – and what am I doing in the midst of you?”
He also paid tribute to his wife, whom he described as “my mast through the storms of life”.
