Kristen Stewart might be best known in the US for moody role in the much maligned Twilight franchise. In France, however, she was awarded on Friday with the 'best supporting actress' award at the prestigious César awards - becoming the first ever US actress to win one of the awards.

Stewart was awarded for her role in Clouds of Sils Maria, directed by French filmmaker Olivier Assayas and co-starring Juliette Binoche and Chole Grace Moretz.

In her acceptance speech, Kristen Stewart praised Binoche:

Previous winners for best supporting actress at the awards include Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Emmanuelle Béart.

A film named Timbuktu was the big winner at this year's César awards (often called a French equivalent to the Oscars). From director Abderrahmane Sissako, the film follows a number of characters in a small community in Mali that has been taken over by a militant Islamist group.

Timbuktu won seven awards, including for best film and director, and is a candidate for best foreign film at tonight's Oscars.