'Slumdog' director Danny Boyle wins Oscar

February 23, 2009 05:07:41 PM

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Danny Boyle won the best director Oscar here Sunday for his rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire."

The 52-year-old is one of British cinema's most influential film-makers, having previously directed a string of low-budget cult classics including "Trainspotting," "Shallow Grave" and "28 Days Later."

Boyle bounced up the stairs onto the podium to receive his award which took the film's total so far in the evening to seven golden statuettes.

"My kids are too old to remember this now but when they were much younger, I swore to them if this miracle ever happened, I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh," he told the Academy audience.

"You have been so generous to us this evening. Thank you for that. And what a beautiful show you've done."

He also praised all the actors and crew from Mumbai who helped him make the film.

Boyle beat out David Fincher ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Stephen Daldry ("The Reader"), Gus Van Sant ("Milk") and Ron Howard ("Frost/Nixon") to win the award.