Meanwhile Sacha Baron Cohen won the Golden Globe for actor in a comedy film for his spoof Kazakh journalist in Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

There were also awards for Hugh Laurie, Jeremy Irons, Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt.

Peter O’Toole, who had been nominated for Venus, lost out to Forest Whitaker’s portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland in the best actor category.

Borat was beaten to the best comedy or musical film award by Dreamgirls, which won a total of three awards.

Eddie Murphy got best supporting actor in comedy or musical and former American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson was best supporting actress.

Another success story was Ugly Betty, which won the prize for TV musical or comedy series.

Helen was ’terrified’ of The Queen - Jan 12 2007
Helen Mirren said she was "terrified" when she was first approached about The Queen - for which she has picked up a Bafta best actress nomination.

The actress said of her many award nods in recent months: "You never for a moment start taking it for granted. With Bafta, they have a way of being rather wayward sometimes and so it’s never to be expected. I’m absolutely delighted."

She praised the "elegance and intelligence" of the script, which has given the film a nomination for best Original Screenplay.

And she added that at first she "was frightened, terrified on a personal and professional level because of the enormous potential pitfalls" of the movie.

"I’m not a great mimic. When the project was first suggested to me there was no script. In theory, if it’s a challenge and it terrifies me, then I should do it.

"But I thought I’d wait for the script. I didn’t want it to be cheap, sycophantic or grovelling or attacking or cruel."

British dames up for US film awards - Jan 5 2007
Dame Helen Mirren picked up two more major award nominations for her regal roles in The Queen and Elizabeth I.

The star’s performance as the present monarch will see her compete against fellow Brits Dame Judi Dench and Kate Winslet for the best actress award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 28.

All three were also nominated in the equivalent Golden Globes category last month - Dame Judi for Notes On A Scandal and Winslet for Little Children.

The guild also gave Dame Helen the nod in the TV movie or miniseries category for her title role in Elizabeth I.

Irish-born Peter O’Toole is up for best actor his portrayal of an ageing actor in Venus.

Jeremy Irons was nominated for his portrayal of the Earl of Leicester in Elizabeth I, while Hugh Laurie was shortlisted in the comedy series category for his caustic doctor in House.

Overall, ensemble drama Babel, the musical Dreamgirls and road-trip jaunt Little Miss Sunshine led the field with three nominations each.

Leonardo DiCaprio equalled Dame Helen’s tally with two nods - best actor for Blood Diamond and supporting actor for The Departed.

The American version of The Office was nominated for best comedy ensemble and Steve Carell, who plays embarrassing boss Michael Scott, is up for best actor in a comedy series.