Best Actress and Gown Marion Cotillard - Academy Awards 2008

Marion Cotilard - Front

Marion Cotilard - Side

First time Academy Awards nominee, actress Marion Cotillard won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of the role of Edith Piaf, the legendary French singer who rose to international fame from her beginnings on the streets of Paris in the movie La Vie En Rose.

If there were a category for best gown on the red carpet, surely she would have won in that category also.

Marion Cotillard mermaid inspired designer gown was created by Jean Paul Gaultier and featured fabric shaped into white scale patterns.

The gown was gathered at the knee and flared into a fish tail like base.

This technique, we noted, was used in Rihanna green dress that she wore to the World Music Awards.

Marion Cotillard jewelry by Chopard included a champagne necklace layered with brown diamond bead necklaces and a square cut yellow diamond ring.

Designer Jean Paul Gaultier is famous for having created the famous breast cones worn by Madonna in 1984 and the cage dress worn by Grace Jones at the height of her notoriety

See the complete list of 2008 Oscars winners at the official Academy Awards Oscar site.

For more pictures from the Academy Awards red carpet, just enjoy the red carpet slide show.

If you cannot see the slide show in your E-mail or news reader, just go to Marion Cotillard - Best Actress and Gown.