ACTRESSES Kate Winslet and Imelda Staunton are celebrating taking the lead in British nominations at this year's Academy Awards.
Both are in the running for Best Actress - Winslet for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Staunton for Vera Drake.
Clive Owen follows his Golden Globes win with a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Closer and Sophie Okonedo is up for Best Supporting Actress for Hotel Rwanda.
Mike Leigh is a contender for Best Director for Vera Drake, the gritty tale of an abortionist in 1950s Britain.
She has set a record by landing a fourth Oscar nomination by the age of 29.
Staunton, a first-time Oscar nominee,already has a clutch of awards. The 46-year-old said: "I am really, really delighted. People have been barking on so much about it for months and months but I honestly thought I would get squeezed out of the running."
Vera Drake's third nomination is for the Original Screenplay by Leigh, 61, who said: "It's just wonderful and altogether strange, but very good news."
The Aviator received a leading 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Martin Scorsese and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
