Daniel Day-Lewis wins prestigious award
Ireland's Daniel Day-Lewis was named best actor for his role in Gangs of New York by the New York Film Critics circle last night – an award always regarded as a pointer to the Oscars.
The son of poet Cecil Day-Lewis, he plays the murderous 19th century crime lord Bill the Butcher in the Martin Scorsese film which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio and has just opened in the US.
Diane Lane was named best actress for playing a wealthy suburban housewife who has an affair with a younger man in Unfaithful.
Far From Heaven, a sumptuous homage to the Technicolor melodramas of the 1950s, was the big winner, taking the best film and best director awards.
The film also won in the categories of best supporting actor (Dennis Quaid), best supporting actress (Patricia Clarkson).
