The Help Tipped For Glory At Sag Awards

The movie will compete for the coveted Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture prize, alongside The Artist, Bridesmaids, The Descendants and Midnight in Paris.

The film also earned nods in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role category for Viola Davis, as well as Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role thanks to Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer.

Trailing with three nominations was silent film The Artist and receiving two mentions each was The Descendants, J. Edgar, My Week With Marilyn, Bridesmaids, Albert Nobbs and Brad Pitt's Moneyball.

The nominations were announced on Wednesday (14Dec11) by guest presenters Regina King and Judy Greer, and the prizegiving ceremony will take place on 29 January (12).

The main list of nominees for the 18th Annual Sag Awards is as follows:

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:

The Artist

Bridesmaids

The Descendants

The Help

Midnight in Paris

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:

Demian Bichir - A Better Life

George Clooney - The Descendants

Leonardo DiCaprio - J. Edgar

Jean Dujardin - The Artist

Brad Pitt - Moneyball

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis - The Help

Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin

Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn

Armie Hammer - J. Edgar

Jonah Hill - Moneyball

Nick Nolte - Warrior

Christopher Plummer - Beginners

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Berenice Bejo - The Artist

Jessica Chastain - The Help

Melissa MCCarthy - Bridesmaids

Janet MCTeer - Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer - The Help

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:

Laurence Fishburne - Thurgood

Paul Giamatti - Too Big to Fail

Greg Kinnear - The Kennedys

Guy Pearce - Mildred Pierce

James Woods - Too Big to Fail

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:

Diane Lane - Cinema Verite

Maggie Smith - Downton Abbey

Emily Watson - Appropriate Adult

Betty White - Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine

Kate Winslet - Mildred Pierce

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series:

Patrick J. Adams - Suits

Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire

Kyle Chandler - Friday Night Lights

Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad

Michael C. Hall - Dexter

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series:

Kathy Bates - Harry's Law

Glenn Close - Damages

Jessica Lange - American Horror Story

Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife

Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series:

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock

Ty Burrell - Modern Family

Steve Carrell - The Office

Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men

Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series:

Julie Bowen - Modern Family

Eddie Falco - Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey - 30 Rock

Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

Betty White - Hot in Cleveland

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:

Boardwalk Empire

Breaking Bad

Dexter

Game of Thrones

The Good Wife

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series:

30 Rock

The Big Bang Theory

Glee

Modern Family

The Office