Daniel Day-Lewis has made Oscar history, becoming the first man to be named best actor three times.
The recognition for his performance in the title role of Steven Spielberg's biopic of US President Abraham Lincoln puts him above Hollywood legends, including Dustin Hoffman and Marlon Brando who each won twice.
Accepting his award from Meryl Streep, Day-Lewis said: "I don't know how any of this happened."
Other big winners were Anne Hathaway, named best supporting actress for her role in Les Miserables, Jennifer Lawrence who won best actress for Silver Linings Playbook and Ben Affleck's Argo which won best film.
Ang Lee was named best director for Life Of Pi, while Brave – the Disney Pixar movie set in the Highlands and featuring the voices of Billy Connolly, Kevin McKidd and Kelly Macdonald – took Best Animated feature film.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "To win the Oscar is a massive achievement to add to the well-deserved recognition already gained in the same category at the Baftas and Golden Globes.
"Mark Andrews's wonderful depiction of Scotland continues to bring excitement and delight to those who see it and I am certain that winning the top prize in the movie business will now mean it is seen and enjoyed by even more people right across the world."
Adele triumphed in the best original song category for Bond theme Skyfall. She thanked songwriting partner Paul Epworth, who came on stage with her, for "believing in me all the time, and my man, I love you baby". Earlier she had sung the song on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
There were also wins for Quentin Tarantino's western Django Unchained with Christoph Waltz named best supporting actor, while Tarantino picked up the Oscar for original screenplay.
The event's host, Seth MacFarlane – the man behind hit cartoon Family Guy – started proceedings by poking fun at the Academy for not nominating Affleck for his directing Argo, about a CIA scheme to free American hostages in Iran, saying the plan was "so top secret the film's director is unknown to the academy".
The award for costume design went to Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina. The British designer said the win was completely overwhelming.
There was more UK success when the Oscar for makeup and hairstyling was won by Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell for Les Miserables.
Halle Berry – a one-time Bond girl – introduced a 50th anniversary tribute to the James Bond films and music. It was made up of classic clips of 007's adventures and continued with Dame Shirley Bassey earning a standing ovation after singing the theme to the 1964 film Goldfinger.
Here are all the winners at the 85th Academy Awards:
Actor in a Leading Role: Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained
Actress in a Leading Role: Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
Actress in a Supporting Role: Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables
Directing: Ang Lee for Life Of Pi
Music (Original Score): Mychael Danna for Life Of Pi
Music (Original Song): Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth for Skyfall from Skyfall
Best Picture: Argo
Animated Feature Film: Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman for Brave
Cinematography: Claudio Miranda for Life Of Pi
Costume Design: Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina
Documentary Feature: Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn for Searching For Sugar Man
Documentary Short Subject: Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine for Inocente
Film Editing: William Goldenberg for Argo
Foreign Language Film: Amour
Makeup and Hairstyling: Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell for Les Miserables
Production Design: Lincoln
Animated Short Film: John Kahrs for Paperman
Live Action Short Film: Shawn Christensen for Curfew
Sound Editing: Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty
Sound Mixing: Les Miserables
Visual Effects: Life Of Pi
Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio for Argo
Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained
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