CARDINALE CELEBRATES COSTUMES

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British-American actress Lansbury, whose career has spanned seven decades, was feted for memorable roles in films like her cockney maid in "Gaslight" in 1944, directed by George Cukor.

While nominated three times for supporting actress Oscars, including for "Gaslight," she has never won.

"Ms. Lansbury, here is your Academy Award at last," said film historian Robert Osborne as he presented her with the golden Oscar statuette.

Lansbury, 88, noted that although she had worked with some of the best actors and directors, the world knew her more for her TV series "Murder She Wrote" than for her film career.

The funniest notes of the night came with the award for Martin, who was the recipient of jabs from fellow actors Tom Hanks and Martin Short. Short called the Governors Awards "the highest honor an actor can receive in mid-November."

"I can't possibly express how excited I am tonight because the Botox is fresh," joked Martin, 68, best known for his offbeat comedy, banjo playing and films like "The Jerk." He has never won an Oscar.

Tosi, the prolific Italian costume designer who worked with the director Luchino Visconti in films like "The Leopard," was not able to travel from his home in Italy. Actress Claudia Cardinale, who wore Tosi's dresses in several roles, accepted the award for the 86-year-old.

"Piero asked me, an actress, to collect this prize because he believes the work of a costume designer is mainly dedicated to us, the actors," said Cardinale.

"I suspect he chose me because he made me suffer a lot in the 10 films we did together."

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