The 90th Academy Awards was one of the most politically-charged in the history of the Oscars, the stars aligning to address everything from sexual abuse and representation to gun control and immigration.

Attendees refrained from wearing uniform black - as they had at the Golden Globes to protest sexual harassment and exploitation - but did sport Time's Up pins and orange badges opposing gun ownership in solidarity with the student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, who lost 17 classmates when teenage gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire on 14 February.

Last night's ceremony was the first since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke last autumn and host Jimmy Kimmel was quick to set the tone for the evening with his opening monologue.

Kimmel joked that the Oscar statuette was now, "the most respected man in Hollywood [because] he keeps his hands where you can see them, never says a rude word and, most importantly, [has] no penis at all."

Oscars 2018 Jimmy Kimmel jokes that Oscars statue is the perfect Hollywood man

He went on to say that the film industry was, "so clueless about women, we made a movie called What Women Want and it starred Mel Gibson."

Stressing this was "a night for positivity", Kimmel expressed his hope that Hollywood could eradicate the problem of inappropriate sexual behaviour in the workplace so that "women will only have to deal with harassment all the time at every other place they go."

Alluding to the eventual Best Picture winner The Shape of Water, Kimmel defined the last 12 months as, "The year men screwed up so badly women started dating fish."

Applauding the recent box office success of Wonder Woman and Black Panther, the host joked: "I remember a time when the major studios didn't believe a woman or a minority could open a superhero movie and the reason I remember that time is because it was March of last year."

Kimmel also used his 10-minute skit to mock the gender pay controversy between Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams over the reshooting of scenes for Ridley Scott's All The Money in the World following the Kevin Spacey harassment scandal. The former was paid $1.5m for his time, the latter just $1,000. "If we can't trust agents..." the comedian remarked with an exasperated shrug.

When the prize-giving got underway, Best Actress winner Frances McDormand - rewarded for her fearsome turn as the aggrieved Mildred Hayes in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - had all the women in the auditorium stand up and called for an "inclusion rider", a clause stipulating the number of women involved in any given production.

Fellow nominees Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, Meryl Streep and Sally Hawkins took a moment to share an emotional embrace.

The Best Actress nominees hug after Frances McDormand's Best Actress acceptance speech (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

Actresses Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd and Anabella Sciorra took to the stage on behalf of the Time's Up movement to hail the "unstoppable spirits who kicked ass and broke through the biased perceptions against their race, their gender and ethnicity to tell their stories", praising such breakthrough creatives as Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, Yance Ford and Kumail Nanjiani.

Oscars 2018: Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra honour Time's Up movement

Last year's Best Actress recipient Emma Stone, handing out the Best Director statuette, described the nominees as "four men and Greta Gerwig".

Racial issues were also to the fore throughout. Awards for Get Out and Coco, Pixar's Mexico-set cartoon feature winning Best Animated Film, were signifiers of a more progressive mindset than the Academy has previously demonstrated.

Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez, introducing a performance of the song 'Remember Me' from Coco, used a description of the film's supernatural plot to attack President Trump, reminding audiences: "In the afterlife, there are no walls."

Coco's director Lee Unkrich, accepting his award, said: "Marginalised people deserve to feel like they belong. Representation matters."

Oscars 2018: Guillermo del Toro wins best Director for The Shape of Water

Fellow countryman Guillermo del Toro, winner of the Best Director award, stressed his status as an immigrant on stage and described his film The Shape of Water as a "fairytale for troubled times" and a work expressing "empathy for the outsider", a less overt attack on the US President's attitude to the "bad hombres" in his homeland across the border.

Actors Lupita Nyong'o and the aforementioned Nanjiani, originating from Kenya and Pakistan respectively, used their moment in the spotlight to express solidarity with the Dreamers, those hoping to stay in the US despite the Trump administration's scrapping of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration programme.

Rapper Common also alluded to the Dreamers and the atrocity at Parkland in his spoken word performance and said: "Tell the NRA, they're in God's way."

Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Show all 62 1 /62 Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Producer J. Miles Dale (L), director Guillermo del Toro (at microphone) and cast/crew accept Best Picture for 'The Shape of Water' onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards uillermo del Toro and Sally Hawkins take the stage to accept the Oscar for Best Picture for "The Shape of Water" from presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway Reuters Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway take the stage to present the Oscar for Best Picture REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actresses Sally Hawkins, Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie and Meryl Streep embrace after Frances McDormand's Best Actress acceptance speech Lucas Jackson/Reuters Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Frances McDormand wins the Best Actress Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Reuters Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actors Jodie Foster (L) and Jennifer Lawrence speak onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards British actor Gary Oldman delivers a speech after he won the Oscar for Best Actor in "Darkest Hour" during the 90th Annual Academy Awards show on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California AFP/Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actor Emma Stone speaks onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards David Malinowski and Armie Hammer attend the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Composer Alexandre Desplat (R), winner of the Best Original Score award for 'The Shape of Water,' motions in the press room to a video feed of director Guillermo del Toro accepting the Best Director award Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Guillermo del Toro accepts the Oscar for Best Director for "The Shape of Water" from presenter Emma Stone (R) REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Alexandre Desplat, winner of Best Original Score for the film The Shape of Water, is congratulated by the film's stars Sally Hawkins (L) and Octavia Spencer (R) REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Presenter Emma Stone walks on stage REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney attend the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Call Me By Your Name stars Armie Hammer (L) and Timothee Chalamet embrace during the Oscars show REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Greta Gerwig gets touched up during the ad break at the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Jordan Peele accepts the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for "Get Out." REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay winner Jordan Peele (R) hugs Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya (L) REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actress Nicole Kidman arrives on stage to present the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Andra Day and Common sing Best Original Song nominee Stand Up for Something from Marshall REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards James Ivory wins the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Call Me by Your Name REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Ashley Judd (L), Annabella Sciorra and Salma Hayek (R) take the stage REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Tiffany Haddish (L) and Maya Rudolph take the stage to present the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Natalia Lafourcade and Gael Garcia Bernal attend the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Sebastian Lelio with his Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for A Fantastic Woman alongside Rita Moreno in the press room at the 90th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood PA Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Coco wins the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Kelly Marie Tran, Oscar Isaac and Mark Hamill present the Best Animated Short Film Oscar REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Margot Robbie gets emotional watching co-star Allison Janey accept her award Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Allison Janey accepts the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for "I, Tonya." REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Matthew McConaughey talks with Marcus Henderson REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Rita Moreno, wearing the same dress she wore to the ceremony she was awarded Best Supporting Actress in a supporting role REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Sam Rockwell poses in the press room with the Oscar for Actor in Supporting Role AFP/Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Gael Garcia Bernal performs on stage Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Miguel and Natalia LaFourcade perform a song from Coco REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Presenters Lupita Nyong'o and Kumail Nanjiani REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Kobe Bryant poses with his award for Best Animated Short Film Award for "Dear Basketball" REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Helen Mirren shows of a jet ski on offer to the shortest Oscars speech Disney ABC Television Group Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Daniela Vega presents during the 90th Annual Academy Awards Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski and Lucy Sibbick hold their gongs for Best Makeup and Hair in the 'Darkest Hour' Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actor/singer Mary J. Blige performs onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actor Taraji P. Henson speaks onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actress Eva Marie Saint presents the Oscar for Costume Design REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Presenters Greta Gerwig and Laura Dern take the stage to give out the award for Best Documentary REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Sam Rockwell accepts the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri AFP/Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actor Lakeith Stanfield takes on his Get Out role once again onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Viola Davis waits to present the award for best supporting actor Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Daniel Kaluuya and Timothee Chalamet greet photographers on the 90th academy awards red carpet Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Mary J. Blige, the first person to be nominated in both the acting and best song categories, arrives at the 90th academy awards REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Jennifer Lawrence attempts to find her seat in the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards The Shape of Waters' Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones embrace on the Oscars red carpet Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Tiffany Haddish attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards wearing a traditional dress from Eritrea Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Salma Hayek takes the red carpet at the 90th Academy Awards REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Diane Warren and Helen Mirren share a laugh at the 90th Annual Academy Awards Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards James Ivory arrives at the 90th academy awards in a custom made shirt featuring Call Me By Your Names' Timothee Chalamet REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Whoopi Goldberg attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Emma Stone arrives at the Academy Awards REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Andra Day arrives at the Academy Awards Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Solidarity sisters Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino and Jane Fonda celebrate Times Up on the red carpet Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman arrives on the 90th Annual Academy Awards red carpet Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell display their Times Up pins REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Get Out's Allison Williams glides down the Oscars carpet REUTERS

In a final historic moment for the Oscars, Chilean actress Daniela Vega became the first trans performer to present on stage, introducing Sufjan Stevens' performance of 'Mystery of Love' from Call Me Be Your Name.