Cate, 44, who looked stunning in a heavily-embellished Armani gown, triumphed in a tough category, beating Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Amy Adams (American Hustle), Judi Dench (Philomena) and veteran Meryl Streep (August: Osage County).
“This award means a great deal in a year of extraordinary performances by women,” she said in her acceptance speech. “This proves movies about women are not niche – they can be very popular and they can make money!”
Cate also controversially thanked Blue Jasmine’s director Woody Allen, who has been accused of child molestation by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow.
It is Cate’s second Oscar – she won the best supporting actress award in 2004 for her role in The Aviator and was nominated in best actress category in 1998 for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth.
Cate wasn’t the only big Aussie winner on the night – Catherine Martin won two Oscars, taking her total tally to four, breaking the record for the most Academy Awards won by an Australian.
Catherine was recognised in the costume design and production design categories for her work on husband Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. She also won two awards for Moulin Rouge in 2002.
This takes her past fellow Aussie costume designer Orry-Kelly, who previously held the record with wins for An American in Paris, Les Girls and Some Like It Hot in the 1950s.
In her acceptance speech, Catherine thanked her creative and sewing team and her director husband.
“He makes it all possible,” she said. “He dreams the dream.”
