US:Irish actor Peter O'Toole received a nomination yesterday in the Golden Globe awards, which are presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and are regarded as reliable indicators of the Oscar nominations to follow in January.
O'Toole (74) from Connemara, Co Galway, has been nominated as best actor (drama) for his touching, critically acclaimed portrayal of an ageing actor in Venus. He has the distinction of being the living actor with the most Oscar nominations without ever winning. He was nominated seven times between 1962 and 1983 - for Lawrence of Arabia, Becket, The Lion in Winter, Goodbye, Mr Chips, The Ruling Class, The Stunt Manand My Favourite Year.
He was given an honorary Oscar at the 2003 ceremony, but initially refused it, saying he was "still in the game" and would like more time to "win the lovely bugger outright". He relented only when he was told the honorary Oscar would be bestowed on him whether he collected it or not.
His most formidable competition for an Oscar for Venuscomes from US actor Forest Whitaker, for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. O'Toole and Whitaker are both on the shortlist for best actor (drama) in the Golden Globes, along with Will Smith for The Pursuit of Happynessand Leonardo DiCaprio, who has two nominations, for Blood Diamondand The Departed.
Helen Mirren received three Golden Globe nominations - best actress (drama) for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, and two as best actress (TV mini-series or movie) for Elizabeth Iand Prime Suspect: The Final Act. The other nominees for best actress (drama) are Judi Dench ( Notes on a Scandal), Kate Winslet ( Little Children), Penelope Cruz ( Volver) and Maggie Gyllenhaal ( Sherrybaby).
In the best director category, Clint Eastwood took two of the five nominations, for his companion films viewing the 1945 war from the perspectives of the US and Japanese forces in Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima, respectively. The other nominees are Martin Scorsese ( The Departed), Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu ( Babel) and Stephen Frears ( The Queen).
The controversial Boratgot nominations for best film and best actor (Sacha Baron Cohen) in the musical or comedy section.
The awards will be presented in Los Angeles on January 15th.