SAG unveils nominations for 18th annual awards

A heavyweight lead actor spread pits Moneyball’s Brad Pitt (pictured) against his friend George Clooney for The Descendants, Jean Dujardin for The Artist, Leonardo DiCaprio for J. Edgar and the surprise entry Demian Bichir for A Better Life. Apart from Oldman, Michael Fassbender is also a notable absentee for his work in Shame.

Viola Davis and Tilda Swinton make the cut in the lead actress race for their respective roles in The Help and We Need To Talk About Kevin. They rub shoulders with Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs, Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady and Michelle Williams for My Week With Marilyn. There is no nomination for Young Adult star Charlize Theron.

Davis’ The Help cast-mates Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer are in the running for supporting actress in a spirited selection that includes Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy, Berenice Bejo for The Artist and Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs.

Albert Brooks does not make the cut in the supporting actor race despite picking up steam with critics groups in recent weeks for his work in Drive. Kenneth Branagh is nominated for My Week With Marilyn, Jonah Hill (pictured) for Moneyball, Christopher Plummer for Beginners, Armie Hammer for J. Edgar and Nick Nolte for Warrior.

The cast of The Help is in the running for the ensemble prize and will compete with The Artist, Bridesmaids, The Descendants and Midnight In Paris.

18th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS NOMINATIONS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role
Demian Bichir – A Better Life
George Clooney – The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio – J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Brad Pitt – Moneyball

Outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role
Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis – The Help
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton – We Need To Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role
Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer – J. Edgar
Jonah Hill – Moneyball
Nick Nolte – Warrior
Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role
Berenice Bejo – The Artist
Jessica Chastain – The Help
Melissa McCarthty – Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer – The Help

Outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight In Paris

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a television movie or miniseries
Laurence Fishburne – Thurgood
Paul Giamatti – Too Big To Fail
Greg Kinnear – The Kennedys
Guy Pearce – Mildred Pierce
James Woods – Too Big To Fail

Outstanding performance by a female actor in a television movie or miniseries
Diane Lane – Cinema Verite
Maggie Smith – Downton Abbey
Emily Watson – Appropriate Adult
Betty White – Hallmark Hall Of Fame: The Lost Valentine
Kate Winslet – Mildred Pierce

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series
Patrick J Adams – Suits
Steve Buscemi – Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler – Friday Night Lights
Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad
Michael C Hall – Dexter

Outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series
Kathy Bates Harry’s Law
Glenn Close Damages
Jessica Lange American Horror Story
Julianna Margulies The Good Wife
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series
Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Ty Burrell – Modern Family
Steve Carell – The Office
Jon Cryer – Two And A Half Men
Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family

Outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series
Julie Bowen – Modern Family
Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey – 30 Rock
Sofia Vergara – Modern Family
Betty White – Hot In Cleveland

Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Game Of Thrones
The Good Wife

Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
The Adjustment Bureau
Cowboys & Aliens
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
X-Men: First Class

Outstanding performance by a stunt ensemble in a television series
Dexter
Game Of Thrones
Southland
Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena
True Blood

Screen Actors Guild Awards 48th Annual Life Achievement Award
Mary Tyler Moore

Final voting information will be mailed by postcard on Dec 30. The entire active Guild membership across the country, approximately 100,000 actors, may vote on all categories and the Guild said online voting is encouraged. The SAG awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Jan 29, 2012.