Kate Winslet wins Best European Actress award

We would use the term ridiculous, but that would be mean. Mum Kate Winslet loves his moniker, and frankly, that’s all that matters. (AFP /CARL DE SOUZA)

British actress Kate Winslet has won the Best European Actress award while "Das Weisse Band" ("The White Ribbon") picked up the prize for best European film at the European Film Academy's annual awards.

"Titanic" star Winslet, 34, won the award late on Saturday for her role as former concentration camp guard Hanna Schmitz in "The Reader", a part for which she also picked up an Oscar in February.

Austrian Michael Haneke also picked up best director and best screenwriter for "Das Weisse Band", an austere black-and-white study of malice in a German village on the eve of World War I which also won the coveted Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes film festival.

Tahar Rahim picked up best actor for his role in "Un Prophete" ("A Prophet") at the European Film Awards, held this year in Bochum, Germany.

"Slumdog Millionaire", which swept the board at this year's Oscars, won the People's Choice Award for Best European Film, while Britain's Ken Loach was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.