RALPH FIENNES - STARS PREPARE FOR GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

STARS PREPARE FOR GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

The Hollywood award season kicks into gear today as stars prepare to attend the Golden Globe awards.

Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Kirstin Scott Thomas and Hugh Laurie are all in the running for top prizes at the show which recognises the best in film and television

Three British film-makers have been nominated in the best director category with Slumdog Millionaire's Danny Boyle, the Reader's Stephen Daldry and Sam Mendes, who directs Revolutionary Road, all up for the prestigious prize.

Kate Winslet, Kirstin Scott Thomas, Rebecca Hall, Sally Hawkins and Emma Thompson are all nominated for gongs in the two best actress categories for their performances this year.

Winslet is also in the running for the best supporting actress prize for her role in the Reader while Ralph Fiennes could pick up the best supporting actor prize for the Duchess.

British writers also comprise three of the five contenders in the best screenplay category with Peter Morgan's Frost/Nixon, the Reader by David Hare and Slumdog Millionaire author Simon Beaufoy amongst the nominees.

House star Hugh Laurie has been nominated for the thrid time in the best actor in a TV drama category for his role in the comedy while Dames Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins could win for their roles in the BBC's Cranford.

Brad Pitt's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and theatre adaptions Doubt and Frost Nixon are the frontrunners for prizes tonight with each being listed for five awards.

Renonwed director Stephen Spielberg is set to be honoured tonight with the Cecil B DeMille award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field."