Oscars 2012 - Latest news

Streep scored a record 17th Oscar nomination for her controversial portrait of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, but will have to compete against Michelle Williams for Best Actress for her role in My Week With Marilyn.
The 62-year-old actress is in the running for the film The Iron Lady in which she plays Maggie as a befuddled old lady looking back over highlights of her career. Streep has won two Oscars but the last time she took a golden statuette home was for Sophie’s Choice 29 years ago. more:It's Maggie vs. Marilyn! Meryl Streep and Michelle Williams lead contenders for this year's Oscars

Brad Pitt received his third Oscar nomination , for his part in Moneyball. The actor, who lost out to close friend George Clooney at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, has never won the award. Michelle Williams and Meryl Streep - who both scooped Golden Globes - go head to head in the Best Actress category alongside The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara. The Artist looks set to be the big winner on the night - Sunday February 26 - alongside Martin Scorsese's children's film Hugo, which scooped 11 nominations.
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Hugo, the 3D epic adventure film directed by Martin Scorsese, leads the charge at 2012 Academy Awards with 11 nominations, including best film and director.

The second in line come The Artist, the French comedy which is up for 10 awards, including best film, director, actor and supporting actress. more: Oscar 2012: Martin Scorsese’s Hugo leads the charge with 11 nominations

THE NOMINEES ARE:

Best Actress

Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn

Rooney Mara -  The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 

Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis - The Help

Best Supporting Actress

Bérénice Bejo - The Artist

Jessica Chastain - The Help

Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer - The Help

Best Actor

Demián Bichir - A Better Life

George Clooney - The Descendants

Jean Dujardin - The Artist

Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Brad Pitt - Moneyball

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn

Jonah Hill - Moneyball

Nick Nolte - Warrior

Christopher Plummer - Beginners

Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Picture

The Artist

The Descendants

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

The Help

Hugo

Midnight In Paris

Moneyball

The Tree of Life

War Horse

Costume Design

Anonymous - Lisy Christl

The Artist - Mark Bridges

Hugo - Sandy Powell

Jane Eyre - Michael O'Connor

W.E. - Arianne Phillips