Plus: reviews of the Best Picture nominees.
Meryl Streep has landed an Oscar nomination for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Britons Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh and Janet McTeer are also in the running for Academy Awards.
Streep, 62, the winner of two previous Academy Awards, has received critical acclaim for her role as the former British prime minister.
The nominations for the 84th Academy Awards were announced in Beverly Hills by X-men: First Class star Jennifer Lawrence and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak. Streep has previously been Oscar-nominated a record 16 times.
Oldman, 53, is up for best actor for his role as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It is his first Oscar nomination.
Branagh, 51, is in the running for best supporting actor for his performance as Sir Laurence Olivier in Marilyn Monroe biopic My Week With Marilyn. He said: "It was a rare honour to play Sir Laurence Olivier. To be recognised by the Academy for doing so is overwhelming. I'm absolutely thrilled."
Newcastle-born McTeer, 50, is up for best supporting actress for her role in drama Albert Nobbs.
The black and white silent film The Artist has 10 nominations, including best film, but Martin Scorsese's family film Hugo leads with 11 nominations.
War Horse, based on the National Theatre play inspired by Michael Morpurgo's novel, is up for six gongs, and is also among the movies vying for best film.
As well as The Artist, Steven Spielberg's War Horse is up against The Descendants, Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight In Paris, Moneyball, and The Tree Of Life.
Cold War thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has been nominated for best adapted screenplay.
The list of Oscar Nominees 2012
Best Picture
The Help
Read Alison Rowat’s review
Based on Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel, The Help explores the lives of the black women of 1960s Misssissippi , who spend their days taking care of prominent southern families – and often receiving only mistreatment in return. Skeeter (Emma Stone) a young writer, persuades a number of the women to be interviewed for her book, including Aibileen (Viola Davis) who takes great personal risks to be involved.
Hugo
Read Alison Rowat’s review
Twelve-year-old Hugo lives alone inside the walls of busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on keeping a low profile, but his life changes when he meets a little girl and the owner of a toy booth, who put his unusual lifestyle in jeopardy. A 3D film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Jude Law, Ben Kingsley and Ray Winstone.
Moneyball
Read Alison Rowat’s review
Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the general manager of Oakland Athletics baseball team. Despite poor salaries and a disappointing season in 2001, Beane takes on the challenge of turning his team’s fortunes around, controversially introducing mathematical analysis into player evaluation.
War Horse
Read Alison Rowat’s review
The story of a remarkable animal, War Horse follows Joey’s journey from rural England to the heart of Europe, where he plays a role in the First World War, entering the lives of British cavalry, German soldiers and a French farmer. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the book by Michael Morpurgo
The Artist
Read Alison Rowat’s review
A silent story of the careers and romance of George Valentin, a 1920s movie idol, and Peppy Miller, a star-struck extra and aspiring actress. As their relationship progresses, the love-struck Valentin becomes distracted on set, and while his lover’s career takes off, he begins to fear that ‘talkies’ will be his downfall.
The Descendants
An indifferent husband and father of two daughters is forced to re-examine his past and reconnect with his family after his wife suffers a boating accident. Starring George Clooney. Due for UK release on January 27th.
Midnight in Paris
This warmly-received Woody Allen film is a romantic comedy following a family's visit to Paris, where a groom-to-be, played by Owen Wilson, discovers an unexpected world and questions his own.
Extremely loud and incredibly close
A boy whose father died in the World Trade Center attacks, looks for the lock that matches a mysterious key he left behind.
The Tree of Life
Read Alison Rowat’s review
Following a man's memories of growing up in 1950s America, Terrence Malick's imaginative drama, which stars Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, is tied exploration of life itself.
Best Actor
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Actor In a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Actress In a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Animated Feature Film
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
Best Cinematography
The Artist
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Directing
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Foreign Language Film
Belgium, Bullhead
Canada, Monsieur Lazhar
Iran, A Separation
Israel, Footnote
Poland, In Darkness
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
The Descendants: Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Hugo: Screenplay by John Logan
The Ides of March: Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
Moneyball: Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Story by Stan Chervin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan
Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Artist: Written by Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids: Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
Margin Call: Written by J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris: Written by Woody Allen
A Separation: Written by Asghar Farhadi
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