People's Choice Awards: Superheroes Win Big

Superheroes dominated at the People's Choice awards, a popularity contest which marks the beginning of the prize-giving season.

Iron Man and Avengers star Robert Downey Jr was named favourite movie actor for the fourth year in a row, and favourite dramatic actor.

Downey's fellow Avenger, Captain America star Chris Evans, won favourite action movie actor, and said: "I don't win stuff so this is kind of cool."

Amy Adams awarded her Batman Vs Superman costar Ben Affleck with the humanitarian award, praising his work in providing aid and trying to change policy to help improve the lives of the people of eastern Congo.

"I've been called a lot of things in my life, but I'm not sure if humanitarian is ever one of them," Affleck said.

"The one way to combat the sad things we see, the terrible things we see, is to bring a little bit of kindness into the world," he added, dedicating the award to his Eastern Congo Initiative.

Disney's Maleficent triumphed over Captain America, Guardians Of The Galaxy, 22 Jump Street and X-Men: Days Of Future Past for favourite movie.

Melissa McCarthy won the People's Choice award for favourite comedic movie actress, while Adam Sandler won favourite comedic movie actor for the fifth consecutive year.

It is unlikely the pair's films Tammy and Blended will make a reappearance at the award season's other events.

At 93, Betty White - best known for her role in Golden Girls - was named favourite TV icon, accepting her award amid a standing ovation.

Helped on to the stage by Evans, she said: "I cannot, cannot possibly say thank you for ... Can you imagine, the People's Choice, at 93? Thank you with all my heart."

The Big Bang Theory was named favourite TV show, and Viola Davis won favourite actress in a new TV series for How To Get Away With Murder, and thanked the show's creators for "thinking of a leading lady who looks like my classic beauty".

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea won favourite hip hop artist and also performed her hit Beg For It.