Clooney wins first Oscar

George Clooney won his first Oscar today for his performance in Syriana at the Oscars tonight.

Clooney won the best supporting actor award – beating Brokeback Mountain’s Jake Gyllenhaal.

In Syriana, he played a CIA operative caught up in the murky world of the oil industry.

Clooney (aged 44) is up for three Oscars in total - his other nominations are best director and best original screenplay for Good Night, And Good Luck.

“Alright, so I’m not winning best director...” he joked as he accepted his award, to widespread laughter.

“The funny thing about winning an Academy Award is this will always be synonymous with your name from here on in – ‘Oscar winner George Clooney, Sexiest Man Alive 1997, Batman, died today in a freak accident...”

Clooney praised his “stellar” fellow nominees and said: “I’m truly honoured to be up here with them.”