Day-Lewis is best actor for Gangs of New York

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS has been named best actor for his role in Martin Scorsese's epic Gangs of New York at the Las Vegas Film Critics' Society Awards.

The society has presented annual awards, called the Sierras, for the past five years.

George Clooney's first attempt at film directing, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, was named best picture.

Clooney directed the CIA caper as well as starring in it alongside Julia Roberts and Drew Barrymore.

The second Lord of the Rings film won the most prizes, with four, including one for director Peter Jackson.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is based on the memoirs of game show producer Chuck Barris, who said he led a double life as a CIA hitman.

It was made with the help of Clooney's producing partner Steven Soderbergh, who directed Ocean's Eleven and Traffic.

The Las Vegas critics gave Nicole Kidman the best actress prize for her turn as author Virginia Woolf in The Hours.

In Washington, critics bestowed their best film award on Tom Hanks' thriller Road to Perdition, directed by Sam Mendes.

Another actor-turned-director, Denzel Washington, was named best director but had to share that prize with Mendes and Spike Jonze.

Acting honours went to About Schmidt star Jack Nicholson and Julianne Moore, for Far From Heaven.

Critics across the US hand out their own awards as the film ceremony season gets into full swing, and they often provide pointers towards what will do well at the Oscars in March.