Benedict Cumberbatch receives two SAG nominations... as fellow Brits Rosamund Pike and Eddie Redmayne also get nods
Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Reedmayne and Rosamund Pike are amongst the British nominations at the 2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Benedict, 38, is in the running for honours in both the TV and movie categories, and will contest for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for his performance in Sherlock and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his turn in The Imitation Game.
The delighted actor said: 'I'm over the moon. And so delighted to receive recognition in such esteemed company for both Sherlock and The Imitation Game by my acting peers. What an amazing early Christmas present! Thank you to all who voted and watched both pieces of work.'
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In contion: Benedict Cumberbatch will contest for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for his performance in Sherlock and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his turn in The Imitation Game at the Screen Actors Guild Awards
But the actor faces stern competition in the form of Eddie Redmayne, 32, whose incredible performance as Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything has prompted talk of Oscar and BAFTA nominations.
His British co-star Felicity Jones has also been nominated for her role as Hawking's devoted first wife, Jane in the Category for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.
She will battle it out with Jennifer Aniston (for Cake), Julienne Moore (for Still Alice), Reese Witherspoon (for Wild) and Rosamund Pike, whose performance in a Hollywood adaptation of bestselling novel Gone Girl has won her rave reviews.
Keira Knightley has been nominated for two gongs, including Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in The Imitation Game.
In contention: Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones have also been nominated for roles in The Theory Of Everything, which charts Professor Stephen Hawking's struggle with motor nuerone disease
Knightley said she is 'honoured' to be up for both that award - which she will contest with Meryl Streep, Patricia Arquette, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts - and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture with her castmates.
She said: 'Thank you so much to the Screen Actors Guild. It's such an honour to be nominated by your peers and in the company of this group of talented women. I'm thrilled to celebrate this morning with Benedict Cumberbatch and the cast.'
Screen veteran Maggie Smith is another Brit to be named on Tuesday.
Her long running role as the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey has won her a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.
Among the other nominees announced by Ansel Elgort and Eva Longoria in Los Angeles this morning were Jennifer Aniston, whose performance in Cake earned her a Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role nod.
Potential winner: British actress Rosamund Pike has been named in the category for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performance in Gone Girl
Two noms: Cumberbatch is amongst the nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries, thanks to his role in Sherlock
But she faces competition for the prize from The Theory of Everything star Felicity Jones, Still Alice actress Julianne Moore, Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike and Reese Witherspoon from Wild.
Meanwhile American film Birdman is up for four prizes, including the Outstanding Performance by a Cast, while its stars Michael Keaton, Edward Norton and Emma Stone all received individual nominations.
In the TV categories, Modern Family led the way with four nominations, while Boardwalk Empire, House of Cards, Homeland and Game of Thrones each scored three nods.
The winners will be announced at a televised ceremony on Sunday, January 25, 2015.
Familiar face: Keira Knightley has picked up a nomination for supporting role in The Imitation Game
Recognition: Screen veteran Maggie Smith (R) has earned a nomination in the category for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her role as the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2868659/Benedict-Cumberbatch-leads-Brits-TWO-nominations-Screen-Actors-Guild-Awards.html#ixzz3LXWMBIaQ
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