Chicago strikes right note with eight nominations

DANIEL DAY LEWIS has been nominated for a Golden Globe for his leading role in the new Martin Scorsese movie Gangs of New York.

Catherine Zeta Jones is up against co-star Renee Zellweger in the best actress in a musical or comedy category for Chicago, which topped the shortlist with eight nominations.

Hugh Grant is in the running for best actor in a musical or comedy for his role in About A Boy also a contender for best film.

The Golden Globes are regarded by many as an indicator of the front-runners for the Oscar nominations in February.

For the best dramatic actor award, Michael Caine has been nominated for The Quiet American, along with Day-Lewis.

Besides Chicago, films picking up multiple nominations included Martin Scorsese epic Gangs Of New York, Jack Nicholson's road-trip saga About Schmidt and The Hours, which stars Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf.

The Hours' British director and screenwriter, Stephen Daldry and David Hare, earned nominations.

The winners of the Golden Globes will be announced at an awards ceremony on January 19.

The contenders for best film are About Schmidt, Gangs Of New York, The Hours, Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers and Roman Polanski Holocaust drama The Pianist.

In the best dramatic actress category, Nicole Kidman will compete with co-star Meryl Streep for their roles in The Hours.

Hugh Grant's competition for best actor in a musical or comedy includes Richard Gere for his sleazy lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago.

Among Chicago's eight nominations are best musical or comedy film, best supporting actress for Queen Latifah, and best director for Rob Marshall.

Besides Chicago and About A Boy, the other films vying for the best musical or comedy award are My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Nicolas Cage movie Adaptation and Nicholas Nickleby.

Madonna's Bond theme tune Die Another Day has been nominated for best original song along with U2's The Hands That Built America, from Gangs Of New York.

The five shows shortlisted for best TV drama series will all be familiar to Irish viewers: 24, The Shield, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos and The West Wing.

Sex And The City, Will and Grace and Friends have again been nominated for a clutch of awards.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Debra Messing and Jennifer Aniston have all been nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy.

Matt LeBlanc is up for best actor in a musical or comedy, while Sex And The City's

Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall are in the running for best supporting actress.