Presenters Chris Pine and Jennifer Lopez. Photo: REX

Only one Brit went home with an Oscar during the 87th edition of the awards show.

Eddie Redmayne won the prestigious title performance by an actor in a leading role for his work on The Theory of Everything, in which he portrays physicist Stephen Hawking. Read The River’s review of the movie here.

He beat Bradley Cooper for his role in American Sniper, Steve Carell in Foxcatcher, Michael Keaton in Birdman and Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game.

Redmayne paid tribute to the Hawking family in his speech, and “all the people around the world battling ALS.”

He also thanked his “staggering partner in crime”, co-star Felicity Jones, and his “ferocious but incredibly kind director James Marsh”.

Felicity Jones was nominated best actress but was beaten by Julianne Moore.

Eddie Redmayne accepts his Oscar. Photo: REX
Eddie Redmayne accepts his Oscar. Photo: REX
Benedict Cumberbatch with his wife, Sophie Hunter. Photo: REX
Benedict Cumberbatch had to go empty-handed home. Here with his wife, Sophie Hunter. Photo: REX

Julianne Moore won best actress for her work on Still Alice, Alejandro González Iñárritu won best director for Birdman and Graham Moore won best adapted screenplay for The Imitation Game.