Birdman star Michael Keaton has made a huge Oscars gaffe, pulling out his acceptance speech, before realising he wasn’t the winner.

As Cate Blanchett announced the Best Actor winner at the Academy Awards on Sunday, Keaton was spotted pulling a white card out of his pocket, before quickly returning it when he realised Eddie Redmayne was the victor.

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Keaton was widely tipped to win the Oscar for his stunning Birdman performance, as a former superhero movie star who is trying to resurrect his career.

His character in the film, Riggan Thompson, is obsessed with winning rave reviews for a Broadway play he is directing, producing and starring in, making the Oscar moment all the more ironic.

Birdman won four Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Director Best Cinematography and Best Original Screenplay.

The film’s director, Alejandro G Iñárritu, gave Keaton a chance to say a speech of sorts when the entire cast got on stage to celebrate the Best Film win.

“It’s great to be here, who am I kidding?” Keaton said when joined the director on the stage.

“This has been a tremendous experience. This guy is as bold as bold can be.”

Better luck next time, Keaton.