Voight: 'Winslet deserved to win'

Jon Voight was delighted to see Kate Winslet scoop the Best Actress Oscar on Sunday, beating his daughter Angelina Jolie to the podium.

Winslet scooped the honour for her portrayal of a Nazi guard in 'The Reader' at the prestigious prizegiving, sixth time lucky for the star who had been a losing nominee five times before.

And Voight insists her long-awaited win was well-deserved - although it meant Jolie went home empty-handed.

He says: "It's wonderful. I voted for Angie and all the gals deserve to be (winners)... (But Winslet) is a brilliant actress and she was brilliant in her performance.

"Kate's a great person. She's got her feet on the ground... and it must have been very moving for the people of Britain too."

And even Jolie herself, who won the Best Supporting Oscar in 1999 for 'Girl, Interrupted', had predicted a victory for Winslet.

Voight adds: "It was Kate's night, as Angie had said actually - she said she thought it was gonna be Kate's night and it's wonderful to see.

"Ange is a pro, she knows what's going on, she's been there before, she's gotten the award before. She's an experienced person and she knows that it can go any way. All of them have to be prepared... (even) Winslet said she was practising to look dignified if she lost."