It was Marion Cotillard's night at the 80th Academy Awards last night. She won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose and arguably best dressed of the night for the mermaid inspired fish-tailed, John Paul Gaultier gown she wore.

Tilda Swinton picked up the award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Michael Clayton, in a one-armed Lanvin dress. And she wasn't the only star flying the flag for Britain, Daniel Day Lewis won Best Actor for his performance in There Will Be Blood and received his award from Brit Helen Mirren, who sported a Union Jack flag clutch bag on the red carpet.

The other British hopeful of the night was Atonement, which shockingly lost out on almost all the Oscars it was nominated for. Maybe the film's star and Best Actress nominee, Keira Knightley had been given a tip this might happen, as she was a no show at the ceremony. It was rumored she would not attend because of the ongoing writers strike in Hollywood, which threatened to halt the entire evening just weeks ago - and was the reason there was no Vanity Fair party this year. Her co - star and fellow nominee James McAvoy (he didn't win Best Actor) did attend along with his girlfriend British actress Anne Marie Duff and the film's director Joe Wright with his girlfriend, Rosamund Pike, who got her red-carpet look spot on with a one shoulder gown - the most popular neckline of last night.

Anne Hathaway also went for the asymmetric look in a billowing red Marchesa number straight from the autumn/winter 2008 collection unveiled in New York two weeks ago, while Hillary Swank had her Versace gown customised for the night, as originally it was a scoop neck dress.

And if it wasn't one shoulder it was probably red - cue Katherine Heigl in Escada and Heidi Klum in Dior, or black thanks to Jennifer Garner in Oscar de la Renta, Vanessa Paradis and Penelope Cruz, who both wore Chanel and Ellen Page (in vintage) or accessorised with a baby bump- Nicole Kidman (in Balenciaga), Cate Blanchett (in Dries Van Noten) and Jessica Alba (in Marchesa).

Best Picture went to Joel and Ethan Coen for No Country for Old Men which also netted the Best Supporting Actor award for Javier Bradem and Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director (or should that be directors!) gongs for the brothers.

Click here to see our red carpet gallery of all last night's dresses

By Laurelle Gilbert

Posted: 25 February 2007