Martin Scorsese is best director

Updated 15.11 Mon Feb 26 2007
Keywords: Oscars, Martin Scorsese

Britain's Martin Scorsese has finally picked up an Oscar.

His best director award was considered long-overdue. He has been nominated on five previous occasions - for films including Raging Bull and Goodfellas - but never made it. But this time his epic The Departed won best picture.

Martin Scorsese, 64, received a standing ovation from the cheering crowd. "I'm overwhelmed and so moved," he said.

He received his Oscar from three contemporaries and friends, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas.

Accepting the award from presenter Steven Spielberg, he joked: "Could you double check the envelope?"

Scorsese, 64, received a standing ovation from the cheering crowd. "I'm overwhelmed and so moved," he said.

"So many people over the years have been wishing this for me - strangers, you know. I walk in the street and people say something to me. I go to the doctor's office, in elevators, people say 'you should win one'. I go for an x-ray, they say 'you should win one'. I'm saying thank you."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.