DATE=03/25/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=OSCART WRAP / S

NUMBER=2-287945

BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN

DATELINE=LOS ANGELES

INTERNET=YES

INTRO: Two African Americans have won top acting awards at Hollywood's Academy Awards -- the Oscars. Mike O'Sullivan reports that other top awards went to a fantasy film and a drama about a troubled mathematician.

TEXT: Halle Berry became the first African American actress to win an Oscar for a leading performance. She dedicated the award to African American performers who came before her, including singers Lena Horne and Diahann Carroll.

Another black performer, Denzel Washington, earned the Oscar for best actor for his role as a dishonest police officer in "Training Day."

The fantasy "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" won four Oscars: for makeup, cinematography, visual effects and original score.

The drama "A Beautiful Mind" also earned four Oscars, including best picture and best adapted screenplay. The film's director, Ron Howard, was named best director and costar Jennifer Connelly was named best supporting actress.

There was one surprise at the Oscars. British performer Jim Broadbent was named best supporting actor for his costarring role in "Iris," where he played a husband whose wife suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. (Signed)

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