'The Help' tops nods for Screen Actors awards

"The Help," a film about the lives of black housekeepers in the US south before the civil rights era, and hit silent movie "The Artist" topped nominations at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards on Wednesday.

"The Help" scored four nods for the SAGs including best actress for Viola Davis, while "The Artist," a black-and-white tribute to the silent movie era, was shortlisted in three categories.

On the small screen, Emmy-winning sitcom "Modern Family" won five nominations including best ensemble cast in a TV comedy, while there were nods also for British actresses Kate Winslet and Maggie Smith.

Actors George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Glenn Close are also among stars tipped for prizes from the Guild, whose nominations traditionally kick off Hollywood's annual awards season.

For outstanding cast performance - sometimes an indicator of best picture winner at the all-important Oscars - Disney's "The Help" is up against "The Descendants," "The Artist," "Bridesmaids" and "Midnight in Paris."

The SAGs announcement - winners will be announced on January 29 - came a day ahead of the nominations for the Golden Globes, also seen as a key indicator of hopes for the Oscars, the climax of Hollywood's annual gong-fest.

For best actor, Clooney - playing a single father in "The Descendants" - faces competition from DiCaprio, for his portrayal of legendary FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in "J. Edgar" and Pitt in baseball movie "Moneyball."

Also in the running for the male prize are Demian Bichir for his role as an immigrant in a "A Better Life" and Jean Dujardin, who made a big splash with the homage to silent movies, "The Artist."

For best actress Streep, who plays Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady," is up against Close in "Albert Nobbs," Davis in "The Help," Tilda Swinton in "We Need To Talk About Kevin" and Michelle Williams as Monroe in "My Week With Marilyn."

The SAGs shortlists were notable for some absentees, including Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" and Steven Spielberg's "War Horse," which many have tipped for possible awards over the next few months.

Here are the nominees in other key categories:

- Best supporting actor: Nick Nolte in "Warrior," Kenneth Branagh in "My Week With Marilyn," Armie Hammer in "J. Edgar," Jonah Hill in "Moneyball" and Christopher Plummer in "Beginners."

- Best supporting actress: Octavia Spencer in "The Help," Berenice Bejo in "The Artist," Jessica Chastain in "The Help," Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids," Janet McTeer in "Albert Nobbs."

- Outstanding stunt ensemble: "The Adjustment Bureau," "Cowboys & Aliens,"' "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II," "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," and "X-Men: First Class."

SAG awards are also given for television movies and mini-series. The main nominees are:

- Best actor in TV movie or mini-series: Laurence Fishburne in "Thurgood," Paul Giamatti in "Too Big to Fail," Greg Kinnear in "The Kennedys," Guy Pearce in "Mildred Pierce," and James Woods in "Too Big to Fail."

- Best actress in a TV movie or mini-series: Diane Lane in "Cinema Verite," Maggie Smith in "Downtown Abbey," Emily Watson in "Appropriate Adult," Betty White in "The Lost Valentine," and Kate Winslet in "Mildred Pierce."

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