'Atonement' takes the lead in Golden Globe nominations

BRITS are leading the way in the Golden Globes after homegrown drama Atonement picked up seven nominations.

As well as best drama, director and screenplay, the film earned best drama actor nominations for its British leads Keira Knightley and James McAvoy.

Kate Blanchett was also celebrating, joining Knightley in the lead category for her performance in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. She was also nominated for supporting actress for her gender-bending portrayal of Bob Dylan in I'm Not There.

Other contenders for best drama are crime epics American Gangster, Eastern Promises and No Country for Old Men, college drama The Great Debaters, George Clooney's Michael Clayton and oil-boom saga There Will Be Blood.

But British-produced historical romance Atonement, based on the novel by Ian McEwan, blew away the competition and picked up a total of seven nominations for the 65th Golden Globes.

It makes the film an early contender to lead the Oscars race. Oscar nominations come out nine days after the Globes are awarded on January 13.

Renowned British actor Daniel Day-Lewis also earned a place in the best actor in a drama category for the critically acclaimed There Will Be Blood.

Helena Bonham Carter was nominated for best actress in a comedy or musical for Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Brits were also celebrating in the television categories, with medical series House earning Hugh Laurie a best drama actor nomination. It could be his third consecutive win.

Ricky Gervais has been nominated for best actor in a comedy or musical for his hit Extras.