Brits at the Oscars!

British celebrities will be representing Queen and Country at the Oscar's ceremony in Los Angeles next month. Three of our leading ladies have been nominated for Best Actress and Britain has fifteen nominations in total. Dame Helen Mirren is being tipped as the favourite to win in the best actress category for her unforgettable role in The Queen. Bookmakers William Hill has odds of 12-1 on her winning the award and are quoted as saying "she is the closest to a sure thing we have ever seen for the Brits". Dame Judi Dench, a previous Oscar winner, has also been nominated in Best Actress category for her role as scheming schoolteacher in Notes on a Scandal. Our third nominee for this category is Kate Winslet for her role as an American housewife in Little Children. Aged 31, she has the honour of becoming the youngest person to have received five Oscar nominations.

They will, however, face stiff competition on the night. Meryl Streep, who has a record of fourteen nominations, is another popular favourite for her part as the terrifying editor of a fashion magazine in the Devil wears Prada. Spanish actress, Penelope Cruz, is another contender for her role in Volver.

The Academy Awards are being held on February 25th at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.