Russell Crowe wins best actor Oscar

4.50 pm

LOS ANGELES - New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe has been named best actor at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards.

Crowe won for his role as Maximus in the Ridley Scott film Gladiator.

Gladiator went on to win the award for best film of 2000.

In his acceptance speech, Crowe made mention of his grandfather, and his uncle, Dave Crowe, who died last year.

He beat competition from Javier Bardem in Before Night Falls, Tom Hanks in Cast Away, Ed Harris in Pollock and Geoffrey Rush in Quills.

Julia Roberts won the best actress award for the title role in Erin Brockovich.

Best director went to Steven Soderbergh for Traffic.

In other major categories, Benicio del Toro picked up the best actor in a supporting role award for Traffic and Marcia Gay Harden best actress in a supporting role for Pollock.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon scooped several of the early awards, winning Best Foreign Film, Cinematography, Music and Art Direction.

Gladiator also picked up awards for Visual Effects, Costume and Sound.

Stephen Gaghan won the best writing (adapted) award for Traffic, while Cameron Crowe won the best writing (original) Oscar for Almost Famous.

Oscar-nominated songs have punctuated the awards presentation, including Bob Dylan perfoming live by satellite from Sydney.

He went on to win the Oscar for "Things Have Changed" from the film Wonder Boys.