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| Australian actress Cate Blanchett poses with her
Oscar at the 77th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, February 27,
2005. Blanchett won the Academy Award for best supporting actress
for her role in the film "The Aviator."
(Reuters) |
Cate Blanchett of "The Aviator" and Morgan
Freeman of "Million Dollar Baby" won Academy Awards as
supporting players Sunday, the first Oscar wins for the two Hollywood
veterans.
Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes epic "The Aviator," which led
contenders with 11 nominations, took four Oscars early in the show.
Freeman won for his portrayal of a worldly wise
ex-prizefighter in
Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby."
"I want to thank everybody and anybody who ever had anything at all to
do with the making of this picture. But I especially want to thank Clint
Eastwood for giving me the opportunity to work with him again," said
Freeman, who previously co-starred in Eastwood's "Unforgiven."
Freeman's win set up a record-tying night for black performers, with
Jamie Foxx expected to take the best-actor prize for the Ray Charles tale
"Ray." It would be only the second time blacks have won two of the four
acting Oscars, following Denzel Washington and Halle Berry's triumph three
years ago for "Training Day" and "Monster's Ball."
"It means that Hollywood is beginning to make history," Freeman said
backstage. "We're evolving with the rest of the world."
Playing Katharine Hepburn in "The Aviator," Blanchett had the spirit of
the Oscars' most-honored actress on her side. Hepburn, the love of Hughes'
life in the 1930s before she began her long romance with Spencer Tracy,
earned 12 nominations and won a record four Oscars.
"Thank you, of course, to Miss Hepburn. The longevity of her career I
think is inspiring to everyone," said Blanchett. She added thanks to
"Aviator" director Scorsese, saying, "I hope my son will marry your
daughter."
Oscar host Chris
Rock said Blanchett was so convincing that Sidney Poitier, Hepburn's co-star
in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," showed up at Blanchett's house
for supper.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2005-02-28 11:08