Oscars 2013: Lincoln Star Daniel Day-Lewis Claims Historic Hat-trick

British actor Daniel Day-Lewis completed a historic hat-trick of successes at last night's Academy awards, while Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lawrence and Ang Lee also enjoyed memorable evenings.

Day-Lewis claimed the Best ctor award for his role in the biopic of nineteenth century American president Abraham Lincoln. He is the only actor to have won the award three times.

In winning the Best Actor prize, Day-Lewis had to overcome Joaquin Phoenix, Bradley Cooper and Denzel Washington. The Best Actress category was equally keenly contested, with many predicting the award would go to Jessica Chastain for her role in Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow's highly acclaimed chronicle of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.

However the award eventually went to Jennifer Lawrence for her role as a young widow in Silver Linings Playbook, a romantic comedy-drama partially set in a mental health facility. At 22, Lawrence is the second-youngest woman ever to receive the accolade.

The award for Best Film went to Argo, Ben Affleck's account of the Iranian hostage crisis in which a group of American captives escape from Tehran by posing as science fiction filmmakers. Affleck, who appeared in his first film 32 years ago, has only won one previous Oscar, for Good Will Hunting back in 1997.

However the most successful film of the night was Life of Pi, which emerged with four awards. Lee won Best Director, while his movie was also recognised in the Best Original Score, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects categories.

Lee, 58, has now won 12 Academy Awards, and been nominated for a further 26, during his 20-year film career.

Here is the list of winners of the Oscar Awards 2013:

Best picture: Argo, Directed by Ben Affleck

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln.

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence for her role in Silver Linings Playbook

Best Director: Ang Lee for Life of Pi

Best Screenplay (Original) - Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained

Best Screenplay (Adapted) - Chris Terrio for Argo

Best Music (Original Song): Adele for Skyfall

Best Original Score: Michael Danna for Life of Pi

Best Production Design: Rick Carter (Production Design) and Jim Erickson (Set Decoration) for Lincoln.

Best Film Editing: William Goldenberg for Argo