The 84th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, took place on February 26, 2012. This annual ceremony honors outstanding achievements in the film industry for the previous year. The event was held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, and was hosted by Billy Crystal. At the 84th Academy Awards, The Artist won the award for Best Picture, while Michel Hazanavicius received the Best Director award for the same film. Jean Dujardin won Best Actor for his role in The Artist, and Meryl Streep took home the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.