Meryl Streep wins by a landslide... and silence is golden for The Artist at the Oscars

But in a nostalgic night in Hollywood, The Artist fulfilled expectations and took five Academy Awards - making it the first silent movie to win since Wings in 1929.

Streep, 61, made no mention of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher in her victor's speech. Instead she took the opportunity at the ceremony - attended by nominees such as George Clooney and Brad Pitt - to thank her husband, Don Gummer, and colleagues.

"I look out here and see my life before my eyes," said the actress who has been nominated 17 times and won for Kramer vs Kramer in 1980 and Sophie's Choice in 1983.

Streep effectively led the British charge as the movie - backed by Film4 and the defunct UK Film Council - also took best make-up for the people who effected her dramatic transformation into old age.

Streep wore Lanvin's first eco-friendly dress made after accepting the Green Carpet Challenge posed by Livia Firth, wife of Colin, which encourages designers to producer environmentally friendly clothes and stars to wear them.

The Arist's victory as best picture saw Uggie, the 10-year-old dog, take to the stage to join Jean Dujardin, its star and best actor winner.
Dujardin, 39, was forced to apologise afterwards for dropping an expletive during his acceptance speech - although it was in his native French, which meant most of the audience missed it.

After last year's triumph with The King's Speech, British film-making had a more subdued night with disappointment for nominees Kenneth Branagh, Gary Oldman, Janet McTeer and director Stephen Daldry.
But the industry could claim its share in the success of Hugo, Martin Scorsese's first family film and debut in 3D, which was made in Britain with a mainly British cast and scooped five Oscars in technical categories.

Graham King, its London-born producer, also had a second victory with the animation Rango. London plastic surgeon Mohammed Jawad saw Saving Face, a film about his work with victims of acid attacks in his native Pakistan, named best documentary short.

Beating film-maker Lucy Walker's documentary on Japan after the tsunami, Saving Face was made by Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy who became the first Pakistani to win an Oscar. She dedicated her award to "all the women in Pakistan working for change".

Christopher Plummer, 82, became the oldest ever acting winner and paid tribute to his Beginners co-star Ewan McGregor, saying he would "happily" share the award with him "if I had any decency, but I don't".

Accepting his prize for original song for Man Or Muppet from The Muppets, Bret McKenzie, one half of the popular singing comedy act Flight Of The Conchords, thanked his parents for never telling him to get a proper job.

Live action short went to The Shore by Terry and Oorlagh George. Mr George, who wrote the Guildford Four film In The Name Of The Father, dedicated their win to "the people of Northern Ireland" where the film is set.

The Winners

Best picture: The Artist

Actress in a leading role: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Actor in a leading role: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Directing: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Actor in a supporting role: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Actress in a supporting role: Octavia Spencer, The Help

Animated short film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore

Documentary short subject: Saving Face

Live action short film: The Shore

Original screenplay: Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen

Adapted screenplay: The Descendants, Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Original song: Man or Muppet, The Muppets by Bret McKenzie

Original score: The Artist, Ludovic Bource

Visual effects: Hugo

Animated feature film: Rango

Documentary feature: Undefeated

Film editing: Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Foreign language film: A Separation (Iran)

Make-up: The Iron Lady

Costume design: The Artist

Cinematography: Hugo