The film won 11 Oscars last year, and sailed home with two People's Choice Awards, which are voted for by the public through a nation-wide telephone poll.

Celine Dion: Favourite female musical performer

It won favourite motion picture, beating Steven Spielberg's wartime epic Saving Private Ryan, and space action film Armageddon. It also won favourite dramatic motion picture, while singer Celine Dion - whose theme from the film, My Heart Will Go On, was a massive world-wide hit - was named favourite female musical performer.

But James Cameron said: "We're hoping this is closure. It really is a great honour. After 1998 being such a fantasy year for all of us, this is a nice way to end it."

Saving Private Ryan star Tom Hanks - who won favourite movie actor - joked: "It's never too late to give an award to Titanic."

But the film's stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet lost out to Hanks and Sandra Bullock as favourite actor and actress. Sir Elton John, who performed on stage with country singer LeAnn Rimes, was named all-time favourite musical performer.

Helen Hunt: Still loves winning

Harrison Ford was the all-time favourite movie star, while Bill Cosby won the television equivalent and country singer Garth Brooks won his 10th People's Choice award as favourite male musical performer.

Seinfeld and Frasier shared best television comedy, and ER won best television drama. Favourite male television performer was Tim Allen, from the sitcom Home Improvement.

Helen Hunt - who won a best actress Oscar for As Good As It Gets last year - picked up favourite female television performer for her role in Mad About You.

Asked by reporters if she was tired of award ceremonies, she replied: "When you win, it's hard to get sick of it. It's very flattering."

There's Something About Mary was named best comedy movie.