New Zealand-born star Russell Crowe and Aussie actor Geoffrey Rush stand between English teenager Jamie Bell and a best actor Bafta award, Britain's equivalent of the Oscar.
The 14-year-old, star of the highly successful Billy Elliot, is also up against Hollywood heavyweights Michael Douglas and Tom Hanks.
Bell, who made his movie debut as an aspiring ballet star in Billy Elliot, saw his film gain 13 other nominations as the cinema awards shortlist was unveiled yesterday.
Speaking from his home in Billingham, Teesside, Bell said: "I am off school at the moment with the flu so I felt a bit under the weather this morning. But when my mum rang me from work to tell me that I had been nominated for best actor it made me feel a little better."
Crowe (Gladiator), Rush (Quills), Douglas (Wonder Boys) and Hanks (Cast Away) provide the teenager with daunting opposition.
The best actress category is also studded with stars: Juliette Binoche (Chocolat), Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich), Hilary Swank (Boys Don't Cry) and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).
For the best film award, British-made Billy Elliot is up against Almost Famous, Erin Brockovich, Gladiator and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Oliver Reed is in the running for a posthumous prize as best supporting actor in the epic Gladiator - his one and only short-listing for a Bafta.
Gladiator has the highest tally of nominations with 15, followed by Billy Elliot and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, both on 14.
The Bafta winners will be announced on February 25, a month before the Academy Awards - earlier than usual and in time to influence the Hollywood ceremony.
- NZPA
Herald Online feature: Oscars
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Lifestyle
I still remember the harrowing first time I told a smoker he was going to die of lung cancer
Telegraph: 'The idea that people ‘choose’ to smoke is rubbish to me.'