As the first major Hollywood awards show of the year not to be affected by the writer's strike got under way there was double triumph for British talent.Daniel Day Lewis scooped the Best Actor prize and dedicated his win to the late Heath Ledger."In Brokeback Mountain he was unique, he was perfect," he said, adding that the final scene in that ground-breaking movie was as perfect an acting moment as he had ever seen. "I'd like to dedicate this to Heath Ledger."For her portrayal of a woman with dementia 66 year old Julie Christie picked yet another Best Actress award.The pair now become strong favourite to pick up the Oscar next month.For Best Supporting Actress there was a surprise win for Ruby Dee for her role as Frank Lucas' mother in American Gangster as favourite Cate Blanchett was snubbed.But there were no surprises in Best Supporting Actor as Oscar favourite Javier Bardem yet received more recognition for his role in No Country for Old Men.No Country for Old Men went on to scoop Best Picture, solidifying it's Oscar win potential. The film also picked up the gong for best ensemble cast in a motion picture.

This is the first award show that has had all the glitzy and glamour that has come to be associated with awards season after the Golden Globes was reduced to a press conference.

But the Screen Actors Guild have been steadfast in their support of the strike, with many actors refusing to cross the picket lines, the strikers in return gave their blessing for the SAG ceremony to ahead without any trouble.

Despite the Oscar organisers stating that the ceremony will go ahead on 24 February it's still unclear whether the writer's will picket the event and if the actor's will once again back them by staying away.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

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