Thatcher role puts Streep in line to bag Oscar

Now the American has another chance at securing the accolade after she bagged a record seventeenth Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

But the 62-year-old will have to fight it out against My Week with Marilyn star Michelle Williams, who was also nominated for the Academy Award.

Yesterday’s nominations brought mixed fortunes for British stars. Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh and Janet McTeer all learnt they were in the running for an award, but Tilda Swinton and Carey Mulligan – both tipped for success – were left off the list.

Oldman, 53, is up for best actor – his first Oscar nomination – for his role as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, while Branagh is a contender for best supporting actor for his performance as Sir Laurence Olivier in Marilyn Monroe biopic My Week With Marilyn.

The 51-year-old has broken an Oscar record with his latest nomination, having now had five nominations in five categories. He said: “I owe him (Sir Laurence) a debt of gratitude. He was an inspiration, so to be recognised is very meaningful. The film was hopefully a way of bringing a new generation’s attention to a great man.”

Asked what Sir Laurence might have made of his performance, he said: “I’m very glad that he’s not around to say. But I hope that he’s in the sky, with a smile on his face saying ‘you cheeky bugger’.”

Newcastle-born McTeer, 50, is up for best supporting actress for her role in gender-bending drama Albert Nobbs.

Streep, who landed a Golden Globe for her role only a few weeks ago, said of her Oscar nomination: “I am honoured to be in company with such beautiful artists, and touched deeply by my fellow actors for their generosity in giving me this acknowledgement.”

She won Oscars for Sophie’s Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer.

Leading the running with the most number of nominations, is Martin Scorsese’s family film Hugo, which was picked for 11 categories. Black and white silent film The Artist has 10 nominations, including best film, best actor for French star Jean Dujardin and supporting actress for Berenice Bejo.

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.

The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius said he was “so honoured” to be nominated.

“Filming The Artist in Los Angeles was a dream come true, and to receive this recognition today is far beyond what I ever imagined,” he said.

The film’s supporting actress contender Berenice Bejo said: “I’m overjoyed and filled with happiness.”

A number of big names were missing from the nominations list. Tilda Swinton whose role as a loveless mother in We Need To Talk About Kevin was tipped for success was ignored by the academy.

Also missing from the nominations is artist-turned filmmaker Steve McQueen’s tale of sex addiction, Shame, whose stars Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan were considered likely candidates for honours.

Cold War thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has been nominated for best adapted screenplay and Oldman described his Oscar nomination as “humbling”.

“This afternoon in Berlin I have learned that I was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of best actor,” he said. “You may have heard this before, but it has never been truer than it is for me today, it is extremely humbling, gratifying, and delightful to have your work recognised by the Academy.”

Woody Allen is up for best director for Midnight In Paris.

He will be up against Scorsese for Hugo, fellow US filmmaker Terrence Malick for The Tree Of Life, French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist and Alexander Payne for The Descendants.

As expected, George Clooney is up for best actor for comedy-drama The Descendants.