It was an unexpected way of an announcing a widely expected triumph......a White House telecast by first lady Michelle Obama to reveal that Ben Affleck's thriller Argo had won best picture.

SOUNDBITE, Ben Affleck, actor and director, saying (English):

"I want to acknowledge the other eight films, there are eight great films that have every right - as much a right to be up here as we do - I want to acknowledge them and thank them for what they did and for many of them who didn't even get nominated this year."

Oscar history was made by Daniel Day-Lewis who became the first man to win three best actor Oscars. He also won a long standing ovation as he collected his statuette for his intense performace as U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

SOUNDBITE, Daniel Day-Lewis, actor, saying (English):

"I really don't know how any of this happened, I do know that I've received so much more than my fair share of good fortune in my life and I'm so grateful to the Academy for this beautiful honour."

Jennifer Lawrence was named best actress for playing a feisty young widow in the comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook', tripping up on her dress while approaching the stage.

SOUNDBITE, Jennifer Lawrence, actress, saying (English):

"You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell and that's really embarrassing, but thank you."

Taiwanese director Ang Lee beat front-runner Steven Spielberg in the race for best director for Life of Pi.

In other contests, Anne Hathaway won her first Oscar - best supporting actress for Les Miserables - while 'Amour' gave Austria the best foreign language film.

Another Austrian, Christop Waltz, took away best supporting actor for his role as a bounty hunter in 'Django Unchained' -- the movie for which Quentin Tarantino also took the Oscar for best original screenplay.