Olivia Colman wins Oscar for best actress at 91st Academy Awards

Olivia Colman was The Favourite at the 91st Academy Awards as she picked up the Oscar for best actress, with many praising her 'hilarious' acceptance speech.

The British actress was a surprise winner for her role as Queen Anne in The Favourite, beating the expected winner Glenn Close, who was hoping to win her first Oscar in seven nominations for The Wife.

Instead, a stunned Colman took the stage and said: "It's genuinely quite stressful. This is hilarious. I got an Oscar."

Olivia Colman was best actress at the 91st Academy Awards. Credit: AP

The British actress, who made her name as Sophie in Peep Show, consolidated Close in her acceptance speech.

She said: "And to be in this category with these extraordinary women, and Glenn Close... you've been my idol for so long and this is not how I wanted it to be and I think you're amazing and I love you very much."

She was presented the award by Frances McDormand. Credit: AP

Speaking backstage after her win, Colman was asked where she will be putting her trophy.

She told the Press Association: "In bed with me, between me and my husband."

Former Peep Show co-star David Mitchell lead tributes to Colman's victory, commending her "brilliant" speech.

Mitchell tweeted: "Oh my God! That's amazing! And what a brilliant speech!"

Piers Morgan commented on the speech: "Nobody gives better speeches than Olivia Colman. Hilarious."

Fellow Oscar winner Rami Malek kissed Colman on the cheek in the press room following the ceremony. Credit: AP

Fellow Oscar winner Julia Roberts took to Instagram to share her appreciation for Colman, writing: "I (love) Olivia."

Edgar Wright, with whom Colman worked on the film Hot Fuzz, said he is "so, so happy" for Colman, also sharing a photo of her in his 2007 film swinging a 'caution wet floor' sign, with the caption: "Colman takes out the competish."

Actress Olivia Munn commended Colman's performance for the Oscar, tweeting: "OLIVIA COLMAN was soooo amazing in The Favourite."

Colman was widely praised for her speech, in which she thanked her mother, father and her "kids who are at home and watching" before joking: "Well, if you're not, then, well done, but I sort of hope you are. This is not going to happen again."

Colman added the Oscar to her earlier wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and National Society of Film Critics for the role.

The other nominees for best actress were Yalitza Aparicio for Roma, Lady Gaga for A Star is Born and Melissa McCarthy of Can You Ever Forgive Me?

  • Who else won an Oscar?

Green Book won the biggest prize of the night as the surprise winner of best picture, a category largely expected to go to Roma.

The film about a black jazz musician and a white driver travelling through the segregated US deep south also won the best supporting actor Oscar for Mahershala Ali, as well as best original screenplay.

Rami Malek was named best actor for his role as Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and planted a passionate kiss on the lips of his girlfriend and co-star Lucy Boynton before making his way to the stage.

The actor had a brief scare on his big night, taking a fall in the theater after he accepted his trophy.

Rami Malek speaks with medical staff after a fall following his acceptance speech. Credit: AP

He was checked by medical staff and appeared uninjured when he came backstage to talk to reporters.

Regina King took the best supporting actress prize for her role in If Beale Street Could talk, leading to the most diverse group of acting winners in the history of the Oscars.

Regina King was crowned best supporting actress. Credit: AP

Shallow from A Star Is Born was named best original song and Lady Gaga addressed her director and co-star Bradley Cooper as she collected the gong, saying: "Bradley, there is not a single person who could have sang this song with me but you. Thank you for believing in me.

"If you are at home sitting on your couch and watching this now, all I can say is this is hard work.

"I've worked hard for a long time. This is not about winning, what it's about is not giving up. If you have a dream fight for it.

"It's not about how many times you are rejected and how many times you fall down, it's how many times you stand up and keep going."

Lady Gaga, left, and Bradley Cooper perform Shallow from A Star is Born. Credit: AP

History was made earlier in the night when Ruth Carter became the first black winner to collect the best costume design prize, while Hannah Beachler became the first black winner of the production design gong, both for their work on Black Panther.

The Marvel superhero movie was also recognised for its original score.

The black-and-white, Spanish-language film Roma won three prizes, collecting the best director prize for Alfonso Cuaron, best cinematography, also for Cuaron, and best foreign language film.

Bohemian Rhapsody was the most awarded film at the ceremony, with prizes for Malek, film editing, sound mixing and sound editing.