The Italian, Roberto Benigni, has won the best actor and best film prizes at this year's European Film Awards in London - seen by some as Europe's answer to the Hollywood Oscars.

He directed and starred in the film "La Vita e Bella" Life is Beautiful, a comedy about the Nazi Holocaust which also won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes film festival.

Best Actress went jointly to Elodie Bouchez and Natacha Regnier of France for "La Vie Revee des Anges" The Dream Life of Angels.