Rediff Entertainment Bureau

Russell Crowe, last year's Academy Award winner for his role in the epic Gladiator, gives away the Best Actress Award to Halle Berry for her aggressive performance as a widow in Monster's Ball.

This is the first time that an African-American actress has won an award. In a tearful speech, she jerks out, "This moment is so much bigger than me. It's for every nameless, faceless woman of colour who now stands a chance because now the door has been opened. I'm so honoured."

"This movie-making experience [Monster's Ball] was magical for me. I gotta take this 74 years [of Academy Awards] away!"

"It has been a very large door [the bias against people of colour]. And I am glad Halle Berry kicked it down," said host Whoop Goldberg.