HOLLYWOOD?(UPDATE) Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman in history to win the Oscar for best director here Sunday, claiming the coveted prize for her Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker."

The 58-year-old film-maker?only the fourth woman ever to be nominated for the award?defeated ex-husband James Cameron to win the golden statuette at the Kodak Theater.

"It's the moment of a lifetime," a stunned Bigelow said as she accepted the award at the glittering Oscars' ceremony here, and dedicated the award to the troops fighting in Iraq.

Bigelow's win had been widely expected after she won the top honor at the Directors Guild of America Awards recently, regarded as a reliable indicator of likely Oscars success.

"The Hurt Locker" also scooped up several other awards Sunday including for best original screenplay.

Her ex-husband Cameron had been nominated for his science-fiction blockbuster "Avatar," the highest-grossing film in history with more than $2.5 billion in earnings since its release last year.

Other nominees in the category on Sunday included Quentin Tarantino for his bloody World War Two film "Inglourious Basterds," Jason Reitman for "Up In the Air" and Lee Daniels for "Precious."