Blanchett was nominated as leading actress for her role in Elizabeth: The Golden Age and as best supporting actress for her role in the Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There, for which she picked up a Golden Globe earlier this week.

The BAFTAs are normally overshadowed by the Oscars and Golden Globes – but this year the awards could shape up to be the film industry’s main event because of the ongoing US screenwriters’ strike.

The industrial action forced the cancellation of the Globes’ traditional red-carpet extravaganza on Monday and also threatens this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, scheduled for February 24.

Film stars are reportedly vying to present the BAFTA awards in London next month, which is likely to attract a healthier list of A-list stars than in previous years.

Blanchett will be up against British actress Keira Knightley in the leading actress category.

Knightley was nominated for her role in romantic drama Atonement, which took the lion’s share of BAFTA nominations last night, with 14 nominations, including best film and best British film.

Director Joe Wright was nominated for best director for the film – an adaptation of Ian McEwan’s award-winning novel about life and love in World War II – which won best picture at the US Golden Globes on Monday.

Joel and Ethan Coen’s bleak No Country for Old Men and Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as a ruthless oil baron, each received nine nominations.

source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au