'Constant Gardener' leads BAFTA nominations

Political thriller 'The Constant Gardener' leads the line-up of nominations at this year's Bafta awards with ten nominations.

The nominations for the thriller, which is based on John Le Carre's novel, include nods for best film, best director for Brazilian Fernando Meirelles, and best actor nods for the film's two stars - Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, who collected a Golden Globe for her role earlier this week.

Ang Lee's gay cowboy romance, 'Brokeback Mountain', which swept the boards at the Golden Globes is also a strong contender with nine nominations, including best film and best director. The film's stars - Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal - were also nominated in the best actor and supporting actor categories respectively.

Acclaimed racial drama 'Crash' also received nine nominations, including best film and best director, for first-time helmer Paul Haggis. The film also received three supporting actor nominations for stars Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon and Thandie Newton.

British film 'Pride and Prejudice' collected six nominations, including best British film and best British director for Joe Wright. However, the film's star Keira Knightly missed out on a best actress nod, although co-star Brenda Blethyn, who played her mother, received a nomination for best supporting actress.

'Chicago' director Rob Marshall's lavish adaptation of the novel 'Memoirs of a Geisha' also received six nominations, including a best actress nomination for star Ziyi Zhang.

George Clooney's second directorial feature, 'Good Night and Good Luck' received four nominations, including three nods for the star, who was nominated in the best director and best supporting actor category, and also received a nod for best original screenplay, which he co-wrote with producer Grant Heslov. The film is also nominated in the best film category and star David Strathairn is nominated for best actor.

The two stars of Johnny Cash biopic, 'Walk the Line' - Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, who plays Cash's wife June Carter Cash - both picked up nominations in the best actor and actress category, respectively.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was also nominated for his role as Truman Capote in biopic 'Capote', while Charlize Theron and Dame Judi Dench were nominated for their respective roles in 'North Country' and 'Mrs Henderson Presents' in the best actress category.

The Baftas will take place in London on February 19 and will be hosted by Stephen Fry.

(KMcA)