Colin Firth gets first Oscar nomination

Colin Firth has been nominated for an Oscar for the first time in his career for his role in A Single Man, with other British stars in the running for prizes.

Undoubtedly, fans of Firth, who was launched to stardom playing Mr Darcy in the 1990s BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, will be delighted that he could be taking home his own statuette for best actor after the March 7th ceremony.

But the Bridget Jones actor was not the only Brit to pick up a nomination for an a Academy Award, with Dame Helen Mirren in the running for her second after being shortlisted for the best actress prize.

She will be going head-to-head with young star Carey Mulligan, who is nominated in the same category for her film An Education, which also saw writer Nick Hornby earn a nod for best adapted screenplay.

Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park is nominated for the animation A Matter of Loaf and Death, which could be his fifth Oscar win, after he last picked up the prize in 2005 for Curse of the Ware-Rabbit.

xxx Suzie Foreman