"I want to thank the very most of all, the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences, the Board of Governors, and all their members, whom many of you are here today," she said. "This has been a extraordinary journey in getting to know what the Academy is about and first and foremost, thank you Academy, because it's about selling motion pictures and respecting the work!"

The actress, who won her first Oscar, thanked Alice Ward, the boxing-family matriarch she portrayed in the film, and the entire Ward family, "for opening your hearts to all of us to make this film."

Leo previously got a nod for best actress for "Frozen River" in 2008.

Bale, 37, landed his first Oscar after he was nominated for the honor. He also had Golden Globe and SAG award wins for his role as Dicky Eklund in the gritty movie.

"Bloody hell. What a room full of talented and inspirational people, and what the hell am I doing in the midst of you," he said. "It's such an honor."

Bale, who has a reputation as a sometimes hot-headed co-worker and who was caught on tape verbally berating a crew member on the set of "Terminator Salvation," joked that he would not use the "F-bomb" like Leo did during her acceptance speech.

"I've done that plenty before," he said.

Aaron Sorkin, winning the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for "The Social Network," paid homage to a legendary screenwriter.

"It's impossible to describe what it feels like to be handed the same award that was given to Paddy Chayefsky 35 years ago for another movie with 'Network' in the title," he said.

In best original screenplay category, David Seidler landed an Oscar for his role in "The King's Speech." He joked about claiming the prize in his 70s.

"My father always said to me I would be a late bloomer," he said,drawing laughs from a packed Kodak Theatre crowd. "I believe I am the oldest person to win this particular award. I hope that record is broken quickly and often."

"Toy Story 3" walked away with the Oscar for best animated feature, as widely expected, while the award for animated short went to "The Lost Thing" dealing with a small boy who finds an unusual creature and tries to find a home for it.

Other early awards went to: "Alice in Wonderland" for art direction featuring production design by Robert Stromberg and set decoration by Karen O'Hara; and Wally Pfister for cinematography for "Inception."

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