FOUR IRISH actors are among the nominees for the 66th Golden Globe film and TV awards, which have announced in Hollywood.
Presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globes are regarded as a strong indicator of the Oscar nominations that follow in January.
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are both nominated as best actor in the film (comedy or musical) category for In Bruges. Their fellow nominees are Dustin Hoffman ( Last Chance Harvey), James Franco ( Pineapple Express) and Javier Bardem ( Vicky Cristina Barcelona).
The nominees for best actor in a TV drama series include Gabriel Byrne ( In Treatment) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers ( The Tudors). Shortlisted in the same category are John Hamm ( Mad Men), Hugh Laurie ( House) and Michael C Hall ( Dexter).
Ralph Fiennes is nominated as best actor in a TV film or mini- series for Bernard and Doris, in which he portrays Donegal native Bernard Lafferty, the butler who inherited his billionaire employer's fortune.
Meryl Streep has been nominated as best actress in film drama ( Doubt) and comedy or musical ( Mamma Mia!). Kate Winslet was shortlisted as best actress in film drama ( Revolutionary Road) and best supporting actress ( The Reader).
The nominees for best film drama are Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Frost/Nixonand The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The directors of these films are also nominated in the best director category.
Shortlisted for best comedy or musical are In Bruges, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Happy Go Lucky, Burn After Readingand Mamma Mia!. Nominated for best actor (drama) are Sean Penn ( Milk), Brad Pitt (. . . Benjamin Button), Frank Langella ( Frost/ Nixon), Leonardo di Caprio ( Revolutionary Road) and Mickey Rourke ( The Wrestler).
Shortlisted for best actress (drama) are Angelina Jolie ( Changeling), Kristin Scott Thomas ( I've Loved You So Long), Anne Hathaway ( Rachel Getting Married), Meryl Streep ( Doubt) and Kate Winslet ( Revolutionary Road). The nominees for best actress (comedy or musical) are Frances McDormand ( Burn After Reading), Sally Hawkins ( Happy Go Lucky), Rebecca Hall ( Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Emma Thompson ( Last Chance Harvey) and Meryl Streep ( Mamma Mia!).
Heath Ledger receives a posthumous nomination as best supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight. The other nominees in that category are Ralph Fiennes ( The Duchess), Philip Seymour Hoffman ( Doubt) and Robert Downey jnr and Tom Cruise (both for Tropic Thunder).
The awards will be presented in Los Angeles on January 11th.