BRITISH historical drama The King’s Speech got a new boost in the race for Oscars glory as its director won a key prize in a weekend of Hollywood awards.

'The King's Speech', starring Colin Firth and Helena Bonham-Carter, has as expected led the field in the 2011 Oscar nominations, and is up for 12 awards.

An early and fully deserved Oscar contender is the quite magnificent Lawrence, here playing to perfection the gritty 17-year-old Ree Dolly in a fine screen adaptation of Daniel Woodreel’s novel set in the Ozark Mountains.