Oscar nominations: Lincoln leads way with 12 nods including Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor

Daniel Day-Lewis could win his third Best Actor Oscar for his role in Lincoln. Credit: DreamWorks Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox.

The Oscar nominations have been unveiled with Steven Spielberg's Lincoln leading the way with 12 nominations. The film is a historical drama set during the final month's of the 16th President's final months in office.

British actor Daniel Day-Lewis is tipped as the favourite to win for his leading role in the film, as Nina Nannar reports:

The film has been nominated for twelve awards, including: Best Picture, Directing, Best Actor, Best supporting Actor, Best supporting Actress, as well as writing, cinematography, costume design, editing, music, filming editing and sound editing.

It should be in UK cinemas early next month. Until then, here is the trailer:

It was mixed news for Brits, with Daniel Day-Lewis nominated for the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, Adele up for the Original Song category for Skyfall and British-born Naomi Watts received a nod for the Best Actress gong for her role in The Impossible.

However, the James Bond film Skyfall, which was widely tipped for a Best Picture nomination on the franchise's 50th anniversary, missed out and British director Tom Hooper was not nominated for Les Miserables.

Best Picture nominees:

  • Amour

  • Argo

  • Beasts of the Southern Wild

  • Django Unchained

  • Les Miserables

  • Life of Pi

  • Lincoln

  • Silver Linings Playbook

  • Zero Dark Thirty

The Life of Pi received 11 nods. The film is director Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's eponymous novel.

The visually arresting film tells the story of a boys survival following a sea disaster. Ang Lee has previously won two Academy Awards, in 2006 for his direction of Brokeback Mountain and in 2001 for Best Foreign-Language Film for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Star-studded Les Miserables got eight nominations, including Best Picture, best soundtrack, best actor and best actress.

The film adaptation of the global stage sensation based on Victor Hugo's epic tale of 19th-century France is directed by Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper and stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter.

Best Actor nominees:

Bradley Cooper was nominated for his role in Silver Linings Playbook. Credit: John Phillips/EMPICS Entertainment

  • Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln

  • Denzel Washington for Flight

  • Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook

  • Hugh Jackman for Les Miserables

  • Joaquin Pheonix for The Master

Day-Lewis could win his third Best Actor Oscar after previously receiving the award for My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood.

Best Actress nominees:

British-born Naomi Watts was nominated for her role in The Impossible. Credit: Matt Crossick/Empics Entertainment

  • Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty

  • Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook

  • Emmanuelle Riva for Amour

  • Quvenzhane Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild

  • Naomi Watts for The Impossible

The Oscars will be presented by Seth MacFarlane, the creator of cartoon Family Guy, at a ceremony in Hollywood on February 26.

Seth MacFarlane (centre) will present the 85th Academy Awards. Credit: REUTERS/Fred Prouser

Watch trailers from some of the Best Picture nominees: