Philip Seymour Hoffman won the Oscar for best actor for "Capote," a biography of a U.S. writer, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Sunday evening in Hollywood.

The best actress Oscar went to Reese Witherspoon for "Walk the Line."

It was the first time that Hoffman, 38-year-old, nominated for Oscar, and he won it.

"I'm in a category with some great, great, great actors, fantastic actors, and I'm overwhelmed. I'm really overwhelmed," Hoffman said while accepting the award.

In addition to thanking his fellow actors and crew, the New York native thanked his mother, family court Judge Marilyn O'Connor.

"I'd like, if you see her tonight, to congratulate her, because she brought up four kids alone and she deserves a congratulations for that," he said. "And, um, we're at the party mom, you know."

"She took me to my first play...Be proud mom, because I'm proud of you. We're here tonight and it's so good."

Witherspoon, who learned to sing for her role as June Carter in the Johnny Cash biography, also won her first Oscar nomination.

"I'm just trying to matter and live a good life and make work that means something to somebody," she said," and you have all made me feel that I might have accomplished that tonight."

"So thank you so much for this honor," said Witherspoon, 29.

She also thanked her co-star, Joaquin Phoenix, who nominated as best actor but lost to Hoffman.

"He put his heart and soul into this performance," Witherspoon said, referring to Phoenix.

Source: Xinhua