Washington, February 24 : British actress Kate Winslet was sure that Meryl Streep would defeat her to clinch the Best Actress Oscar because her own mother, Sally, thought so.

What made Winslet's mother to think this way was the fact that Streep has received 15 Academy Award nominations, more than any other actor or actress in the history of the prize giving, but has only won two statuettes.

"I was a bit worried! At the last minute, I thought Meryl might get it. She has had so many nominations but she only won two," the Contactmusic quoted Sally as saying.

Telling about how she was felling before the ceremony, Winslet said that she was terrified that she would once again have to return home empty-handed.

The actress said that she just could not believe it when she was declared the winner.

"I honestly didn''t expect it. When you''re in a category with Meryl Streep, you really just think, ''Oh well. She''s Meryl Streep! She''s Meryl!'' It''s not supposed to be possible," she said.

Winslet, named Best Actress for her role in The Reader on Sunday, took home the prestigious prize for the first time despite five nominations under her belt. (ANI)