Dench, Hudson, Mirren, Sheen, Streep, et al. Earn BAFTA Nominations
(© Dreamworks)
Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson, Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, and Meryl Streep are among the nominees for the British Academy Film Awards, England’s equivalent of the Oscars. The winners will be announced on February 11 at London’s Royal Opera House.
The Queen led the pack with 10 nods, including a Best Actress nomination for Mirren, a Best Supporting Actor nomination for co-star Sheen, and a Best Screenplay nomination for Peter Morgan.
Mirren will compete against Dench (Notes on a Scandal), Streep (The Devil Wears Prada), Penelope Cruz (Volver) and Kate Winslet (Little Children). Sheen’s competition includes Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland), Jack Nicholson (The Departed) and Leslie Phillips (Venus).
Richard Griffiths, who won the 2006 Tony Award for The History Boys got a Best Actor nod for recreating the role of Hector in the film version, while his co-star, Frances de la Tour, a Tony winner for her performance as Mrs. Lintott in the play, got a Best Supporting Actress nod.
Griffith’s competition includes Daniel Craig (Casino Royale), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed), Peter O’Toole (Venus), and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland). In the Supporting Actress category, the other nominees are Hudson (Dreamgirls), Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), and co-stars Toni Colette and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine).
Dreamgirls received only one other nomination, for Henry Kreiger’s score. It will be up against the scores for Babel, Casino Royale, Happy Feet, and The Queen.
