Octavia Spencer wins supporting actress Oscar for 'The Help'

Los Angeles: Octavia Spencer, a first time Oscar nominee, took home the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role as a sassy maid in the 1960s-era drama 'The Help'. 'Thank you, world!' said Spencer, who was crying and shaking as she accepted the award. The movie based upon the bestselling novel about the lives of black domestics in the pre-Civil Rights-era South has turned Spencer from character actress into a star since she has won the lion's share of awards this season.
She was so overcome she had to be helped onstage by the film's writer-director, Tate Taylor, to a long and boisterous
ovation from the star-studded audience at the 84th Academy Awards. Spencer was nominated alongside Berenice Bejo for 'The Artist', Jessica Chastain for 'The Help', Melissa McCarthy for 'Bridesmaids' and Janet McTeer in 'Albert Nobbs'.

The first awards Sunday night were presented by Tom Hanks, and both went to 'Hugo'. One was for cinematography for Robert Richardson, and the other was for art direction, which went to the husband and wife team of production designer Dante Ferretti and set decorator Francesca Lo Schiavo. Other winners were Mark Bridges, who won for costume design for 'The Artist', and Mark Coulier and J Roy Helland for makeup for transforming Meryl Streep into former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for 'The Iron Lady'. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall won the Best Film Editing Oscar.