Major Oscar winners

Los Angeles - Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire: A British production about an orphan from the Mumbai slums whose extraordinary life story propels him to the final of India's biggest game show. Directed by Danny Boyle and starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto the movie was almost shelved when its original US distributor dropped out. A handout photo provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (AMPAS) shows The Oscar goes to Kate Winslet for her role in 'The Reader' (The Weinstein Company) for Performance by an actress in a leading role, during the live ABC Telecast of the 81st Annual Academy Awards from the Kodak Theatre, in Hollywood, California, USA, 22 February 2009. EPA/Michael Yada / AMPAS /

A handout photo provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (AMPAS) shows The Oscar goes to Kate Winslet for her role in 'The Reader' (The Weinstein Company) for Performance by an actress in a leading role, during the live ABC Telecast of the 81st Annual Academy Awards from the Kodak Theatre, in Hollywood, California, USA, 22 February 2009. EPA/Michael Yada / AMPAS / Best actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader: Regarded as the most talented British actress of her generation, Winslet, 33, could have taken an easy road to superstardom after featuring in Titanic in 1997. She chose however to remain true to her art, choosing numerous offbeat films to star in - Hideous Kinky, Quills and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to name just three. Her other films include Heavenly Creatures, The Life of David Gale, Sense and Sensibility and Finding Neverland. She has six Oscar nominations in total, a record for her age. Best actor: Sean Penn, Milk: One of the most respected actors in Hollywood, Penn is often said to be among the best actors of his generation. A dedicated and outspoken left-wing political activist Penn, 47, was nominated this year for his convincing portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay US politician who energized San Francisco's gay community before his murder by a conservative political rival. Penn has previous Oscar nominations for Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown and I am Sam. He won the Oscar in 2003 for Mystic River. Best director: Danny Boyle: An iconic British director who has worked in film, theatre and television to huge critical success. Prior to Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle was probably best known for his breakthrough feature film Trainspotting. A native of Lancashire, England, Boyle's other movies include The Beach, 28 Days Later, Millions and Sunshine. Best Foreign Film: Departures (Japan): Directed by Yojiro Takita the movie stars Masahiro Motoki as a devoted cellist who moves back to his hometown and takes on a new job as an undertaker after being fired from his orchestra. While those around him despise the job, Daigo finds his calling as a gentle gatekeeper to death, and in a profound and sometimes comical journey he uncovers the wonder of life and living.