While the 74th Annual Academy Awards had all the right ingredients – hype, hysteria and hairdos – for a true Hollywood event, this year history also played a major part, as Halle Berry became the first black woman ever to win the Best Actress award.

A famously tough glass ceiling was shattered as black actors triumphed at the ceremony, receiving no fewer than three of the major awards up for grabs. The longest ceremony in the history of the Oscars at four hours and 15 minutes, there were plenty of surprises at the event’s new home, the Kodak Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. Denzel Washington beating Russell Crowe for Best Actor, for example, Halle Berry winning Best Actress over Sissy Spacek, Jim Broadbent beating hot favourite Sir Ian McKellen for Best Supporting Actor, and Randy Newman winning Best Original Song after a total of 16 nominations.

This week’s HELLO! features a stunning 34 pages of Oscar winners, fashion and post-ceremony parties.