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Baftas 2009: Winslet and Slumdog lead nominations

Kate Winslet in The Reader

Story by Jack Foley

DOUBLE Golden Globe winning actress Kate Winslet has landed a further two nominations for best actress at the British Academy Film Awards (Baftas).

The 33-year-old star, who previously won for Sense & Sensibility, has been nominated for her performances in Revolutionary Road and The Reader.

Another big Golden Globe winner, Danny Boyle’s Mumbai-set drama Slumdog Millionaire, is also in the running for several prizes, including best film, best British film and best director.

The main nominations were announced by Hayley Atwell, star of The Duchess and Brideshead Revisited, and recent Bond girl Gemma Arterton at a morning ceremony at Bafta’s London headquarters. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London on February 8, 2009, when Jonathan Ross will serve as host.

Winslet’s competition for the best actress prize comes from fellow British star Kristen Scott Thomas, for French language film I’ve Loved You So Long, as well as Angelina Jolie (for Clint Eastwood’s Changeling) and Meryl Streep (for Doubt).

Slumdog Millionaire, meanwhile, finds itself up against the likes of Frost/Nixon, The Reader, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Milk for best film, and against Steve McQueen’s Hunger, hitman comedy In Bruges and audience favourite Mamma Mia! for best British film – with documentary Man On Wire completing that shortlist.

The best actor category, meanwhile, pits Slumdog star Dev Patel against Frank Langella, for Frost/Nixon, Sean Penn for Milk, Brad Pitt for Benjamin Button and Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler.

Late Australian actor Heath Ledger gets a nomination for his performance in The Dark Knight, alongside Robert Downey Jr for Tropic Thunder and Brad Pitt for Burn After Reading.

While another Slumdog newcomer, Freida Pinto, finds herself nominated in the best supporting actress category with the likes of Penelope Cruz, for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Tilda Swinton for Burn After Reading and Amy Adams , for Doubt.

Danny Boyle, meanwhile, faces tough competition in the best director stakes from Clint Eastwood (Changeling), David Fincher Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon) and Stephen Daldry (The Reader).

Complete list of nominations