Leo was considered a favorite for the prize, but faced strong competition from both co-star Amy Adams and Helena Bonham-Carter for "The King`s Speech." All played real-life characters.
But Leo seemed overwhelmed when she stepped up to receive her Oscar and let a rare "F-word" slip out on the movie industry`s biggest night.
"Will you pinch me?", she asked presenter Kirk Douglas.
"Oh my god! Oh wow!. Really, really, really truly wow. I know there have been a lot of people saying some real, real nice things to me for several months now. But I am just shaking in my boots here," she said.
Leo starred in "The Fighter" as Alice Ward, the feisty mother of two New England boxing heroes played by Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, who picked up the best supporting actor award later in the show.
While her characterization of the brassy matriarch was not exactly sympathetic, Leo has gone out of her way during awards season to paint Ward as an unsung heroine with a good heart.
Leo got the first language "bleep" of the awards show telecast, while thanking the members of the Ward family on whose story "The Fighter" was based.
(U.C003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
