GEORGE CLOONEY - CLOONEY AND WEISZ AMONG EARLY OSCAR WINNERS

Triple nominee GEORGE CLOONEY won the first Academy Award at Sunday's (05MAR06) ceremony, when his role in SYRIANA earned him the accolade for Best Supporting Actor. Pregnant British star RACHEL WEISZ, radiant in black satin, was another early victor - taking home the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in THE CONSTANT GARDENER. Meanwhile, fellow Brit NICK PARK took home the fourth gold statuette of his career when WALLACE + GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT won Best Animated Feature Film Of The Year. Giant ape epic KING KONG took the gong for Achievement In Special Visual Effects, but lost out to MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA in the Art Direction category. British flick SIX SHOOTER was successful in the Best Live Action Short Film category. Accepting his award Clooney quipped, "So I'm not winning director..." In her speech Weisz paid tribute to her "luminous" co-star RALPH FEINNES, while labelling her win "a tremendous honour".