Katy Perry leads People's choice winners

Katy Perry has won the most People's Choice Awards at the 38th annual fan-favourite extravaganza, but viewers would not have known it from watching the ceremony.

An absentee Perry was honoured in five categories, including favourite female artist, tour headliner, song of the year for ET with Kanye West, music video for Last Friday Night and TV guest star for How I Met Your Mother.

Despite originally being touted by the show's organisers as among the nominees expected to attend, the singer-actress told fans on Twitter earlier this week that she would not make it to the show, but she added: "I want to thank u all for voting for me, fingers crossed!"

It would have marked Perry's first public appearance since British actor-comedian Russell Brand filed for divorce last month after 14 months of marriage.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the final instalment of the magical film series starring Daniel Radcliffe, followed Perry with four wins for favourite movie, action movie, book adaptation and ensemble movie cast, but the film's stars also were not at the ceremony, leaving more screen time on the CBS broadcast for other winners in the show's 43 categories honouring TV, film and music.

Ellen DeGeneres, Nina Dobrev, Chloe Grace Moretz, Adam Levine, Lea Michele and Demi Lovato, who performed Give Your Heart a Break, were among the winners on hand to accept their awards selected by internet votes.

"For all the Rachel Berrys out there, this one's for you guys," said Michele, who won as favourite comedy TV actress for her role in Glee.

Emma Stone and Johnny Depp - another no-show - each won two trophies at the ceremony, which was hosted by The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco. Depp and Stone won the favourite movie actor and actress awards, while Depp was also honoured as favourite animated movie voice for Rango, and Stone was selected as favourite comedic movie actress.

"I moved to LA eight years ago this week with my mum, who's right there," Stone said while accepting her pair of crystal trophies. "It is so insane to be standing up here right now. It is hard to describe to you."

Among the TV winners were How I Met Your Mother for TV comedy, Two Broke Girls for new TV comedy, Hot In Cleveland for cable TV comedy, Neil Patrick Harris for TV comedy actor, Supernatural for TV drama and sci-fi/fantasy show, Person Of Interest for new TV drama, Pretty Little Liars for cable TV drama and Nathan Fillion for TV drama actor.

Winners in the movie categories included Hugh Jackman for action star, Bridesmaids for comedy movie, Water For Elephants for drama movie, Adam Sandler for comedic movie actor and Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern for favourite superhero. Morgan Freeman was bestowed with the first movie icon award.

Click here to launch our gallery of this year's winners