The Academy Awards Cross Borders

Either the Academy Awards seem to be going more international, or America has less top talent in Hollywood. Sean Penn, sans accent, was the only U.S. winner for one of the top five big awards. He was born in Burbank, California. The others?

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger -- Born in Perth, Australia


Best Actress: Kate Winslet -- Born in Reading, England

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz -- Born in Madrid, Spain

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire -- British drama that is set and filmed in India

In addition, the Best Picture winner had seven other wins, which went to British filmmakers -- one of which was Danny Boyle, born in Radcliffe, England.

Japan won the Best Foreign Film category, as well as Best Animated Short Film for "La Maison en Petits Cubes." Kunio Kato, the Japanese filmmaker, had some difficulty forming his thoughts into English, offering many thank-yous and finally quoted the Styx song (which has the Japanese saying): "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto."

Even the host himself, Mr. Hugh Jackman, was born in New South Wales, Australia.