Kate, Sandra, and Nic Tops at Blockbusters

April 11, 2001 -- The atmosphere was playful as the stars stepped out for the low-key Blockbuster Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday, proving that everyone's more relaxed now that the Oscars' red carpet is rolled up and put away for another year.

Kate Hudson, who lost out in the Best Supporting Actress category at last month's Academy Awards, was named Favorite Female Newcomer for her work in the '70s rock flick Almost Famous.

What Women Want co-star Helen Hunt scored a Best Actress in a Romantic Comedy trophy, while Sandra Bullock was named Best Actress in a Comedy for her goofy portrayal in the beauty queen spoof Miss Congeniality.

"Whoever wins this award should probably have all their late fees waived," Bullock joked onstage. "And if that same person lost a video and they can't find it, that should be waived, too."

Michelle Pfeiffer was named favorite actress in a suspense movie for portraying the tormented wife in What Lies Beneath. "OK, so I'm the world's scariest actress," said Pfeiffer. "I always knew it, but now everybody else has to find out."

Benjamin Bratt, whose significant other is Oscar darling Julia Roberts, took home an award for favorite supporting actor in a comedy for Miss Congeniality, and Nicolas Cage was named favorite actor in a romantic comedy for The Family Man.

Backstage, Bratt cracked to reporters, "This is going at the top of the trophy case I'm going to build for [Julia]. Yeah, right. Just push that golden boy aside."

Video retailing chain Blockbuster Inc. holds the show each year, giving millions of movie buffs a chance to pick stars they like. Trophies are given out by genre. Twenty million votes were cast this year.

"I wish it sounded like this in my home when I came home from work," said Nicolas Cage as the crowd burst into cheers.

Veteran actor Warren Beatty was honored with the World Artist Award for his body of work. "You are good for the movie business," he said to the audience.

The program, which also honors musicians and video games, was taped before a live audience at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Tuesday, and will be broadcast Wednesday on Fox at 8 p.m. EDT.

Reuters contributed to this story.