Matthew McConaughey has won the best actor Oscar for his role in the true-life AIDS activist drama Dallas Buyers Club.
McConaughey beat fellow nominees Christian Bale (American Hustle), Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave).
His turn as a homophobe who begins smuggling experimental medicine in Texas when he learns he is HIV-positive earned him his first nomination and Oscar, after a series of star performances in an increasingly serious films.
He quickly praised his rivals for the award, saying "all these performances were impeccable, in my opinion. I didn't see a false note anywhere."
After a nod to his late father - "He's probably up there with a cold can of Miller Lite" - McConaughey offered some straightforward advice for the crowd: "Just keep living."
