Leonardo DiCaprio cut a lonely figure walking up the red carpet before revealing he had a secret woman waiting for him inside the Kodak Theatre.

The 32-year-old, who was nominated in the Best Actor category, explained: 'I've brought my mother tonight.

'Everyone expects you to take some hot date to these things but there's no one hotter than mom for me. She's great company for a nervous guy like me and she loves all this showbiz stuff. I couldn't not bring her.'

Dreamgirls actress Jennifer Hudson endured a nightmare start to her evening due to wardrobe complications.

As well as being wracked with nerves, the Hollywood newcomer almost missed her red carpet entrance after failing to settle on the right bra for the occasion.

She reportedly tried on ten before finally rushing to her limo and arriving at the venue with seconds to spare.

Kate Winslet again failed to win an Oscar having been nominated for the fifth time but insisted she was delighted for fellow Brit Helen Mirren.

'I'm a record breaker and I like that,' said Winslet, who missed out in the Best Actress category.

'When I was a young actress back in Reading being told I would only ever get the small part of the fat girl, I would have settled for that. I'm delighted Helen won. She deserves it.'

Musician James Blunt ran over a fan's foot as he drove away from a post-Oscars party, according to reports.

Blunt, 32, had been attending a party with girlfriend Petra Nemcova, where guests included Madonna, Tom Cruise and George Clooney.

A Los Angeles Police spokeswoman later confirmed they had been called to an incident, although Blunt was thought to be oblivious to what had happened.

Nicole Kidman was forced to walk the red carpet without husband Keith Urban, who opted to stay away from much of the evening's festivities.

Kidman had hoped to arrive hand-in-hand with Urban in a bid to demonstrate how far he has progressed in his fight against alcoholism.

But it would seem the prospect of such high-profile exposure was too much for the country singer, who spent most of the evening out of sight.