Secret Revealed: Winning an Oscar for Best Actress is a heartbreak

WINNING an Oscar should be the greatest moment of any film star's life. But picking up the Best Actress gong - as Sandra Bullock has just done - is often followed by heartbreak.

Kate Winslet's separation from husband Sam Mendes after six years came within a year of her scooping the Academy Award for The Reader. And many others have suffered The Curse of the Best Actress Oscar.

Let us see what recent winners said of their partners in their victory speeches - and how quickly they split after the Oscar ceremony.That was really quick..Here's the list..

Kate Winslet

FEBRUARY 22, 2009: "I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children who let me do what I love and who love me just the way that I am."

MARCH 2010: Announced split.

ON winning the Oscar for her performance in The Reader, 34-year-old Kate paid glowing tribute to "my very own Sam".

However, the cracks in her six-year marriage to 44-year-old Brit film director Sam Mendes - himself an Oscar winner for American Beauty - were beginning to appear.

Reese Witherspoon

MARCH 5, 2006: "I want to say thank you to my wonderful husband."

NOVEMBER 2006: Filed for divorce.

MEETING on the set of hit flick Cruel Intentions, Reese and actor Ryan Phillippe married in 1999 and had two children together.

They were once seen as the golden couple of Hollywood but she filed for divorce in November 2006.

Hilary Swank

FEBRUARY 27, 2005: "I am going to start by thanking my husband because I'd like to think I've learned from past mistakes. Chad, you're my everything - thank you for your support. It means the world."

JANUARY 2006: Split.

Winning a gong in 2000 for Boys Don't Cry, the 35-year-old star famously forgot to thank hubby Chad Lowe.

Both she and Chad, 42, also an actor, spent years constantly answering questions about the "snub".

Charlize Theron

FEBRUARY 29, 2004: "I have to thank my incredible partner in crime. You are one hell of a partner to have. Thank you so much for standing by me."

JANUARY 2010: Split.

SHE and Irish actor Stuart Townsend ended their nine-year relationship in January - almost six years after she picked up the Best Actress trophy for her acclaimed turn as a serial killer in Monster.

After being announced as the winner on that night, Charlize, now 34, had a lingering snog with Stuart, 37, before stepping up to the podium and praising him to the rafters.The pair never married because Charlize refused to wed until same-sex couples were given the same privilege in the US.

The couple split in January this year, with both removing their commitment rings.

Halle Berry

MARCH 24, 2002: "My husband, who is the joy of my life, and India - thank you for giving me peace.

OCTOBER 2003: Split.

HALLE made history in 2002 by becoming the first black star to win the Best Actress Oscar.And when she picked up the gong for Monster's Ball, her singer husband Eric Benet was by her side.

However, 18 months later, she separated from him after he allegedly cheated on her.Halle is now happily married to third hubby, 34-year-old model Gabriel Aubry, and they have a two-year-old daughter, Nahla Ariela.

Helen Hunt

MARCH 23, 1998: Thanked partner Hank - "The very best man I know."

JUNE 2000: Split.

AFTER landing the Best Actress Oscar in 1998 for As Good As It Gets, she thanked her other half, Hank Azaria - most famous for his voice work in The Simpsons.

At first their relationship looked as good as it gets and they tied the knot the following year in a ceremony at their unfinished California home in front of around 100 guests.

But by June 2000, 45-year-old Hank had moved out of the house and into a Bel-Air hotel, where he checked in under a false name. Six months later Helen, 46, filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences" - but insisted that the pair still remained "good friends".

Gwyneth Paltrow

MARCH 21, 1999: Thanked "my friend Ben Affleck".

MAY 1999: Split.

GWYNETH'S Oscar speech lives on for more than just her tears after she picked up her statuette for Shakespeare In Love.

By thanking "my friend Ben Affleck", the notoriously private actress confirmed to the world that they were an item.Ben, 37, starred alongside her in the hit film. But just two months after the awards they broke up.

Julia Roberts

MARCH 25, 2001: Simply thanked "Benjamin Bratt"

JUNE 2001: Split.

THE star was accompanied by boyfriend Benjamin Bratt when she picked up the Oscar for Erin Brockovich. But they quickly parted ways.In her speech she merely thanked "Benjamin Bratt", as well as the rest of her friends and family.