Celebrities have been seen to play a prominent role in Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election and stars from Oprah Winfrey to Ricky Gervais have been quick to hail his triumph.
Long-time Obama backer Winfrey, who was in Chicago for the US president elect's victory rally, said: "It feels like hope won. It feels like it's not just victory for Barack Obama. It feels like America did the right thing.
"It feels like there's a shift in consciousness. It feels like something really big and bold has happened here, like nothing ever in our lifetimes did we expect this to happen. It feels like anything is now possible."
Ricky Gervais, currently in the US promoting his new film 'Ghost Town', claimed his famous comedic creation David Brent would have voted Obama.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I think it's the most exciting election for Americans, from what I've heard, 'cos it's a clean break and just everything about Obama's so charismatic.
"David Brent would vote for Barack Obama. Definitely. He'd love to be on the side of the fact this could change the American landscape."
George Clooney, who raised hundreds of thousands for Obama during his 21-month campaign for the presidency, said: "I congratulate President-elect Obama on his historic victory, and now it's time to begin unifying the country so we can take on the extraordinary challenges that this generation faces
In Los Angeles, friends star Courtney Cox held a victory party that was attended by Jennifer Aniston, John Mayer and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Fall Out boy guitarist Pete Wentz had perhaps the best reason for voting Democrat. During polling, he admitted that his parents got together thanks to Obama's running mate Senator Joe Biden.
Wentz told Associated Press: "They met on the campaign so they have this particular affection for Joe. He came to their wedding. If it weren't for Joe Biden, I would not exist as a human being."
Rapper Usher also welcomed the result, saying: "This will go down in history, in black history, for all of the sacrifices that the great Joseph Lowery and Martin Luther King made, this actually pays off for their sacrifice. The great Rosa Parks.
"So many people sacrificed for us to have a voice. It was one thing to have a voice but, to eventually know the best way to use it and then it grows into this, it's just incredible.
"I'm speechless. I don't even know what to say."
It had been claimed that one celebrity Obama backer, Tim Robbins, encountered difficulties when he attempted to cast his vote in favour of Obama.
TMZ reports that the 'Shawshank Redemption' star and wife of Susan Sarandon had to battle with officials, who wanted him to use a provisional ballot, for five hours before he was allowed to vote, as he was not on the register in his usual polling station in New York.
Robbins was eventually allowed to cast his ballot and afterwards he said: "This is just one example of how difficult it is to vote in the United States."
