Penelope Cruz won the Oscar for best performance by an actress in a supporting role for her portrayal of a jealous ex-wife in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
The award was the first handed out at the 81st Annual Academy Awards, hosted by actor Hugh Jackman at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. The show is being aired on Walt Disney Co.'s ABC, Bloomberg reported.
The Oscar is the first for Cruz, who was nominated for a leading role in 2006's "Volver." Also nominated were Amy Adams and Viola Davis in "Doubt," Taraji P. Henson for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and Marisa Tomei for "The Wrestler."
"Button," from Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures, is up for 13 awards, including best picture. "Slumdog Millionaire," from News Corp.'s Fox Searchlight, has 10 nominations. Also competing for best picture are "Frost/Nixon" from Universal Pictures, "Milk" from Universal's Focus Features, and Weinstein Co.'s "The Reader."