Ben Affleck won big at the 18th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards ... scoring Best Director for Argo. Argo also won Best Picture.

Good news for the father of three who wasn't nominated in the director category for the 85th Annual Academy Awards.

The 40-year-old was announced as the winner by presenter and actor Ray Liotta. Affleck told the crowd:

"Thank you very much. I would like to thank the Academy . . . I'm kidding, I'm kidding! This is the one that counts. I do want to thank the Broadcast Film Critics Association. It actually is very, very cool for me. There was a time where the Ben Affleck Critics' Award was a Saturday Night Live sketch, so this is a very, very cool and exciting thing, particularly to me, because there are so many unbelievable directors in this category who I can only look up to, and so many who didn't get nominated, and I'm really humbled by that."

Affeck won the award over fellow directors Kathryn Bigelow, Tom Hooper, Ang Lee, David O. Russell and Steven Spielberg.

Validation, indeed! Click thru to see the full list of winners.

Girl's day out!

On Thursday, Sienna Miller and her mom Josephine took her darling daughter Marlowe to spend the day in chilly Santa Monica.

The 31-year-old actress and her baby girl have been spending lots of time together, having taken her little cutie pie to lunch and Fred Segal for a quick shopping trip earlier in the week. Guess her hubby Tom Sturridge was busy getting ready for the Golden Globes this weekend!

Looks like it's time to face the music!

Taylor Swift got back to what she knows best as she and her trusty guitar took a trip to Conway Studios in Hollywood on Thursday.

The 23-year-old singer has been mum since split rumors between her and One Direction's Harry Styles surfaced earlier this week. Could she be crafting a tune about her pop star ex?

All signs point to YES!

"Back in the studio. Uh oh..." she tweeted Thursday.

That sounds like a definite warning for her former British beau!

Someone's working on their fitness!

Jennifer Garner was all smiles on Thursday as she went to work up a good sweat at a gym in Brentwood.

The 40-year-old actress has been looking lean lately thanks to her dedicated efforts. What can't this woman do?!

She's focused!

It was back to work for Jennifer Love Hewitt as she got into character while filming a new episode of The Client List on Thursday.

The 33-year-old actress' 2013 is off to a good start as her Lifetime series is set to return for a second season later this year. Between that and her goal of making Maxim magazine's top five sexiest women, it looks like she's got her eye on the prize!

Talk about Ugg-tastic!

Vanessa Hudgens and her sister Stella kept their toesies warm in identical boots while leaving the gym in L.A. These two siblings are definitely diehards when it comes to yoga, and by the looks of their slender frames, it shows. Nice tight tummy, VHudge!

The sexy 24-year-old High School Musical starlet is set to appear in the upcoming flick Spring Breakers alongside Selena Gomez and James Franco.

These hotties are starting the year off on a healthy kick!

A lot of kids look like their parents, but this is on a whole other level!

Reese Witherspoon and her children Ava and Deacon were out and about in Hollywood yesterday, and for a second we thought we were seeing double! The Oscar winner and her daughter look identical!

We wonder if the preteen likes being compared to her famous mom? For Reese, the comparisons are probably super flattering!

Speaking of flattering, the bubbly blonde recently showered fellow actress Naomi Watts with praise for her performance in The Impossible, which earned her an Oscar nomination.

"Not since I saw Meryl Streep's performance in Sophie's Choice have I been so moved by an actress's performance. It reminded me of Sally Field's Norma Rae as well. Such strength an absolute vulnerability in the same performance. A mother who is determined to teach her child what it means to be a good person even when facing her own mortality. You showed every side of Maria's story," she wrote in a gushing letter to the Aussie film star.

We love women supporting other women in Hollywood!

After spending some time with Gabriel Aubry, Nahla was handed off to Halle Berry on Wednesday afternoon. The little girl looked delighted to be spending time with her dad, but she definitely missed her mom, as evident from the bear hug she gave her after Gabe said goodbye.

We know Oliver Martinez is no longer allowed to be around for the custody exchanges, but it is interesting that he seems to be noticeably absent these days...