Three top British stars, Judi Dench (Notes On A Scandal), Helen Mirren (The Queen) and Kate Winslet (Little Children) will be competing for the Best Actress title at the 64th Golden Globes. They are up against Penelope Cruz (Volver) and Maggie Gyllenhall (Sherrybaby) for the award, acknowledged with the BAFTAs as the precursor to the Academy Awards.

Helen Mirren is also nominated for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Television Film for her roles in Elizabeth I and Prime Suspect: The Final Act.

Stephen Frears' The Queen is in contention for Best Picture, alongside Babel (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu), The Departed (Martin Scorsese), Little Chidren (Todd Field) and Bobby (Emilio Estevez). Frears and Scrosese are also both nominated for Best Director.

The Awards will be presented on 15 January 2007.

Dame Judi Dench has previously received Golden Globe awards for Mrs. Brown and the TV production The Last of the Blonde Bombshells, and has received nominations for her roles in Mrs. Henderson Presents, Iris, Shakespeare in Love and Chocolat.  Dame Helen Mirren received a Golden Globe for the television film Losing Chase, and was nominated for her roles in Calendar Girls, Gosford Park ,The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, Door to Door and The Passion of Ayn Rand.  Kate Winslet has previously been nominated for Titanic, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Iris and Sense and Sensibility.

Other British nominations:

Best Actor: Peter O'Toole (Venus)

Best Comedy or Musical: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Best Actor (Comedy or Musical): Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat); Chiwetel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots)

Best Supporting Actress: Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada)

Best Screenplay: Patrick Marber (Notes On A Scandal); Peter Morgan (The Queen)

Best Actor (TV Drama): Hugh Laurie (House)

Best Mini-Series or Television Film: Bleak House; Elizabeth I; Prime Suspect: The Final Act

Best Actress (Mini-Series or Television Film): Sophie Okonedo (Tsunami, The Aftermath)

Best Actor (Mini-Series or Television Film): Chiwetel Ejiofor (Tsunami, The Aftermath); Ben Kingsley (Mrs Harris); Bill Nighy (Gideon's Daughter)

Best Supporting Actress (Mini-Series or Television Film): Emily Blunt (Gideon's Daughter)

Best Supporting Actor (Mini-Series or Television Film): Jeremy Irons (Elizabeth I)