Oscars 2013: Daniel Day-Lewis makes award history winning third best actor gong (GALLERY and VIDEO)

Feb 25 2013 By Cheryl Mullin

DANIEL Day-Lewis made Oscar history today – becoming the first man to be named best actor three times.

The recognition for his performance in the title role of Steven Spielberg’s biopic of US President Abraham Lincoln puts him above Hollywood legends including Dustin Hoffman and Marlon Brando who both won it twice.

Accepting his award from Meryl Streep, Day-Lewis told the audience: “I really don’t know how any of this happened.”

Day-Lewis also paid tribute to his wife, before tearfully thanking his mother.

The other big winners on the night were Anne Hathaway, named best supporting actress for her role in Les Miserables, Jennifer Lawrence who won best actress and Ben Affleck’s Argo which won best film.

Ang Lee was named best director for Life Of Pi, while Adele triumphed in the best original song category for her Bond theme Skyfall.

She thanked her songwriting partner Paul Epworth, who came on stage with her, for “believing in me all the time, and my man, I love you baby”.

Earlier she had performed the song on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood - the first time she had ever sung it live.

Christopher Plummer presented the Oscar for best supporting actress to Hathaway.

Referring to her character Fantine, who was forced into prostitution, an emotional Hathaway said she hoped for a future in which “the misfortunes of Fantine will only be found in stories and nevermore in real life”.

Lawrence, who stumbled on her way to the stage, said: “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell over and that’s embarrassing.

“This is nuts.”

The Oscar for best original score went to Mychael Danna for Life Of Pi, the Oscar for adapted screenplay went to Chris Terrio for Argo before the nominees for best film were introduced by first lady Michelle Obama from the White House.