Hollywood newcomer Derek Luke delivered the most thrilling acceptance speech at the Independent Spirit Awards yesterday (22MAR03) - when he handed his Best Actor honour to his wife.

Luke dragged his wife of four years, SOPHIA, onto the stage with him when he picked up his gong for his performance in THE ANTWONE FISHER STORY, and proceeded to pay tribute to her for helping him realise his dreams.

He said, "She is the spirit that has kept me here. I can't accept this award because this belongs to you."

With that, he handed Sophia his Spirit award, leaving her sobbing as she stood next to him.

Luke then revealed he had actually waited tables at the Independent Spirit Awards four years ago.

It was a good night all round for husbands and wives - Julianne Moore dedicated her award to "my BART" referring to husband Bart Freundlich and Brit ALESSANDRO NIVOLA stepped up to claim his new wife Emily Mortimer's Best Supporting Actress gong.

Nivola read out his wife's acceptance speech, in which LOVELY + AMAZING star Mortimer joked that she knew the sight of her hairy genitals would shock film-goers.

He said, "She said, 'I first knew that this film had had an impact when a woman yelled at me from across the pool at the Hollywood YMCA, 'You should f****** do something about that bush.'"