The air at the Kodak Theatre was thick with royal atmosphere as "The King's Speech" claimed four trophies on the Oscar night, taking home best picture, actor, director and screenplay as the top winner at the event.

 

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Tom Hooper, won the best-director Oscar for helming the period piece. This was his first nomination -- and he gave the credit to his mother. Video>>

 

 

Natalie Portman was named best actress for her role as a tortured ballet dancer in the psychological thriller "Black Swan". Video>>

 

 

Colin Firth who played the English King George VI in "The King's Speech," wins the Oscar for Best Actor at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony held at Kodak theatre in downtown Los Angels on Sunday night. Video>>

 

 

Melissa Leo poses with the trophy after winning the Best Supporting Actress of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards for her performance in the film "The Fighter". Video>>

 

 

Christian Bale, 37, landed his first Oscar after he was nominated for the honor. He also had Golden Globe and SAG award wins for his role as Dicky Eklund in the gritty movie. Video>>

Natalie Portman was named best actress for her role as a tortured ballet dancer in the psychological thriller "Black Swan," while Melissa Leo and Christian Bale took home supporting acting prizes for their work in "The Fighter."

"The King's Speech," a vivid account about King George VI of England struggling to overcome a hereditory stammer, came out on top of the 10-film field of best-picture nominees, topping critics' favorite "The Social Network."

Tom Hooper, won the best-director Oscar for helming the period piece. This was his first nomination -- and he gave the credit to his mother.

"My mom in 2007 was invited by some Australian friends ... to a fringe theater play reading of an unproduced, unrehearsed play called `The King's Speech,"' he said onstage. "Now she's never been invited to a play reading before."

The top acting prizes all went as expected, with each of the winners already having added Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards to their mantles.

Firth, 50, won best actor on his second nomination. He got a nod last year for "A Single Man."

"I have a feeling my career has just peaked," he joked as he took the Kodak Theatre stage to accept the Oscar. "My deepest thanks to the Academy. I'm afraid I have to warn you that I'm experiencing stirrings somewhere in the upper abdominals which are threatening to form themselves into dance moves."

The actor also thanked the cast and crew of "The King's Speech," including Hooper for "immense courage and clear-sightedness."

Portman, on her second nomination, won the Oscar. She was nominated for supporting actress for "Closer" in 2004.

"This is insane," the 29-year-old pregnant actress said. "And I truly sincerely wish that the prize tonight was to get to work with my fellow nominees. I'm so in awe of you. I'm so grateful to get to do the job that I do. I love it so much."

The actress, who was expecting a child, also thanked her parents who presented at the gala, for giving her life and the opportunity to work at an early age.