Colin Firth an Academy Award winner

British actor Colin Firth has received the ultimate recognition for his work after walking away with an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the runaway hit The King's Speech.

The 50-year-old star, who was widely tipped to win having gone into last night's (February 27th) Oscar ceremony with the greatest momentum, emerged victorious as his film clinched a number of accolades.

Despite being a small budget, independent movie, the tale of a stuttering King George VI was declared the best film, while its script emerged as the finest, with director Tom Hooper being awarded the best director gong.

Having been nominated last year for his role in Tom Ford's film A Single Man, but losing to Jeff Bridges, it was second time lucky for Firth, who joked: "I've a feeling my career's just peaked."

Firth has won dozens of awards for his portrayal of the British monarch, including a Satellite, a Bafta, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild, and a British Independent Film Award.