Sandra Bullock scoops best actress Oscar

Sandra Bullock has picked up the prize for best actress at this year's Oscars after being nominated for just the first time in her long career.

Winning the award for her role in the film The Blind Side after previously having starred in films like While You Were Sleeping and Miss Congeniality, Sandra thanked all the other actresses she was nominated against.

The award was quite a turn around of the star, who only the day before had picked up the gong for worst actress for the film All About Steve at the Razzies, an alternative ceremony which celebrates the poorest films each year.

It was a good night all round for the girls, as Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the award for best director for her film The Hurt Locker, beating her ex-husband James Cameron and his blockbuster Avatar.

Overall it was not a night for celebrating for British stars, with Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan and Colin Firth all missing out on the categories they were nominated in.

:-) Bernie Germaine