Natalie Portman praises fiance at Oscars

Natalie Portman paid tribute to her "beautiful love" Benjamin Millepied as she was named Best Actress at the Oscars last night (27.02.11).

The 29-year-old star - who is pregnant with her and her fiance's first child - received the accolade for her role as troubled ballerina Nina Sayers in 'Black Swan' and thanked the choreographer for changing her life with the movie.

Showing off her baby bump in a flowing Rodarte gown Natalie - who met Benjamin on the set of 'Black Swan' - said: "Thank you to my beautiful love Benjamin Millepied who choreographed the film and has now given me my most important role of my life."

The former child star - who made her big screen debut in 'Leon' in 1994 at the age of just 13 - also paid tribute to her mother and father for always encouraging her to act, saying: "I want to thank my parents. First and foremost for giving me my life. And for the opportunity to work at such a young age."

Despite her victory, Natalie is unsure of what her career holds in the future because she now wants to put all efforts into motherhood.

She said: "It's one of the most exciting things of being pregnant. I'm just accepting that I have no idea, it's accepting what people go through every day."

Natalie has become just the fifth actress in Hollywood history to pick up an Academy Award while pregnant.

Eva Marie Saint, Meryl Streep, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rachel Weisz all won Oscars while expecting.