Zeta wins UK's only acting Oscar

Zeta wins UK's only acting Oscar

Catherine Zeta Jones won for her role in Chicago

Catherine Zeta Jones has picked up the UK's only major award of the 75th Oscars for her role in the hit musical Chicago.

The actress won the best supporting Academy Award for her performance as Velma Kelly in the movie adaptation of the stage hit.

The heavily-pregnant star thanked her husband, Michael Douglas, and her family and friends from her home town of Swansea in a short but emotional speech.

But actor Daniel Day-Lewis missed out on the best actor in a leading role award to Adrien Brody who won for The Pianist.

Day-Lewis was considered favourite to win this year's coveted best actor Oscar for Gangs of New York at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre, in a scaled down ceremony because of the war in Iraq.

Sir Michael Caine brought along his wife Shakira and daughter Dominique

Sir Michael Caine was also nominated for best actor for the Graham Greene adaptation The Quiet American.

However, British writer Ronald Harwood's script for The Pianist triumphed in the category for best adapted screenplay.

The best director award was won by Roman Polanski for The Pianist, although he was not at the ceremony to collect his Oscar.

Polanksi's win meant that The Hours' British director Stephen Daldry left empty-handed.

But Australian star Nicole Kidman was honoured with the best actress award for her performance as Virginia Woolf in The Hours.

The coveted best picture Oscar went to Chicago, which won six awards in total on the night, including best picture.

Seven-times Oscar-nominee Peter O'Toole was given an honorary award by the Academy for his contribution to cinema history.

Daniel Day-Lewis had been favourite to win best actor for Gangs of New York

The Irish-born and British educated actor, star of classics such as Lawrence of Arabia and Goodbye Mr Chips, was at first reluctant to pick up his award because he said he still wanted the chance to win one outright.

But during his acceptance speech he said he was "honoured" to receive it.

Protests

This year's Oscars was been billed as a more sombre affair but host Steve Martin ensured it was still an entertaining show, cracking jokes at the expense of the Hollywood audience.

The red carpet area was much shorter than usual and there was less emphasis on the dresses worn by the female stars.

Security was also tightened with a National Guard unit brought in to protect the ceremony.

Some stars took the opportunity to protest against the Iraqi conflict in their speeches.

O'Toole was given an honorary award

Brody called on people to remember the human cost of war, while Kidman said even in a time of crisis art was still important.

Film-maker Michael Moore gave the most controversial speech of the night when collecting his best documentary award for Bowling for Columbine, condemning President George Bush and the Iraqi war.

Others wore a peace dove badge to show their support for peace.

Both pro and anti-war protestors held rallies outside the ceremony.

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar won the best original screenplay for Talk To Her, while the best adapted screenplay was given to The Pianist.

In winning the Oscar Zeta Jones faced stiff competition in the supporting actress category, joining Kathy Bates, Julianne Moore, Queen Latifah and Meryl Streep.