Quotes from the 81st annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles:

"When I was 13 years old my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life."

-Dustin Black, accepting best original screenplay Oscar for Milk

"It's not going to be 45 seconds, I can say that right now. Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one." -Penelope Cruz, accepting the best supporting actress award

"Fifteen career Oscar nominations. That's a record. I hate to say it but when someone puts up numbers like that, it's just hard not to think steroids."

-Hugh Jackman, Oscar host, to Meryl Streep during the opening of the show

"There are certain places in the universe you never imagine standing. For me, it's the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium and here."

-Simon Beaufoy, on-stage after winning best adapted screenplay for Slumdog Millionaire

"I want you to say whatever is on your mind because you know we have a seven-second delay, but if you win, we switch to a 20-minute delay."

-Jackman, to Mickey Rourke during the show's opening