The Hurt Locker wins the Best Picture Oscar

Kathryn Bigelow makes Hollywood history with her brilliant, low-budget Iraq war drama

by Sheila JohnstonMonday, 08 March 2010

Kathryn Bigelow backstage at the Academy Awards last night Todd Wawrychuk ©A.M.P.A.S.

Kathryn Bigelow made Hollywood history last night at the 82nd Academy Awards by becoming the first woman to be named Best Director for The Hurt Locker, which also won for Best Picture. Her brilliant, low-budget Iraq war drama was the big winner at the ceremony, bagging six statuettes as against three Oscars for the co-favourite, Avatar, the sci-fi extravaganza directed by Bigelow's ex-husband James Cameron. The four acting awards were utterly unsurprising and it was a lean night indeed for the Brits, although the respected costume designer Sandy Powell - previously a laureate for Shakespeare in Love and The Aviator - won her third Oscar for The Young Victoria. A full list of nominees follows below.

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

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