Stars of Doubt lead race for Screen Actors Guild Awards

The star-studded religious drama Doubt has emerged as the film to beat at the upcoming 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in January, after scoring a leading five nominations on Thursday.

The film, which John Patrick Shanley adapted and directed from his Pulitzer- and Tony-winning play, won nods for its four main actors: Meryl Streep (best actress), Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis (all nominated for their supporting turns).

Doubt is also nominated for the top award: overall cast performance.

However, it faces stiff competition in the prestigious overall cast category from four strong contenders: fantastical romance The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, gay activistbio-pic Milk, political drama Frost/Nixon and rags-to-riches tale Slumdog Millionaire.

The male stars of Milk (Sean Penn), Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) and Frost/Nixon (Frank Langella) will also compete for the best actor title, facing off against Richard Jenkins in The Visitor and Mickey Rourke, who made a comeback this year in The Wrestler.

Along with Streep, those vying for the best actress trophy are Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Melissa Leo (Frozen River) and Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road).

Winslet also scored a supporting actress nomination for her turn in the Holocaust-themed film The Reader. Besides Doubt's Adams and Davis, Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Taraji P. Henson (Benjamin Button) round out the category.

Along with Hoffman, the late Heath Ledger was another prominent supporting actor contender for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight. Their competitors for the prize are Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder) and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire).

Familiar faces among television nominees

The SAG nominees for television revealed a list of familiar names and past winners.

Vying for best dramatic series cast are the shows Boston Legal, Dexter, House, Mad Men and The Closer.

Comedy series contenders are 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office and Weeds.

Many of the actors from those shows are also reflected in the performing categories.

• Actor, drama: Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Hugh Laurie, House; William Shatner,Boston Legal; James Spader, Boston Legal.
• Actress, drama: Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Holly Hunter, Saving Grace; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men; Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer.
• Actor, comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Steve Carell, The Office; David Duchovny, Californication; Jeremy Piven, Entourage; Tony Shalhoub, Monk.
• Actress, comedy: Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?; America Ferrera, Ugly Betty; Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds; Tracey Ullman, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.

A complete list of nominees is available on the SAG website.

The awards will be telecast from Los Angeles on Jan. 25. The ceremony will also include the presentation of a lifetime achievement award to actor James Earl Jones, famed for his deep baritone.