Margaret Thatcher and Marilyn Monroe couldn't be less alike, but they've been pitted against each other in the fight for the best actress Oscar this year.
Meryl Streep — who plays the former British Prime Minister in The Iron Lady — and Michelle Williams — who plays sex symbol Monroe in My Week with Marilyn — are both nominated in Actress in a Leading Role category at the 2012 Academy Awards.
They will come up against Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Viola Davis (The Help) and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).
The nomination is Meryl's 17th, more than any other actor or actress in the history of the awards. Despite this, Meryl has only won two Oscars, with the last being for Sophie's Choice 29 years ago.
George Clooney has been nominated for the best actor award for his performance in The Descendants, and will no doubt relish the chance to go up against his good friend Brad Pitt, who is recognised for his role in Moneyball.
Demian Bichir (A Better Life), Jean Dujardin (The Artist) and Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) will also compete for the best actor award.
Martin Scorsese's Hugo scored the most nominations, receiving 11 nods in categories including Best Picture, Directing, Cinematography, Costume Design and Music.
French film The Artist was close behind, receiving ten nominations, including ones for Best Picture, best actor, best actress and cinematography.
The Oscars ceremony, hosted by Billy Crystal, will take place on Sunday February 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
Complete list of nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards:
Best Picture:
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Actor in a Leading Role:
Demian Bichir in A Better Life
George Clooney in The Descendants
Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt in Moneyball
Actor in a Supporting Role:
Kenneth Branagh in My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill in Moneyball
Nick Nolte in Warrior
Christopher Plummer in Beginners
Max von Sydow in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Actress in a Leading Role:
Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis in The Help
Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn
Actress in a Supporting Role:
Bérénice Bejo in The Artist
Jessica Chastain in The Help
Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer in Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer in The Help
Animated Feature Film:
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
Art Direction:
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse
Cinematography:
The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Costume Design:
Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.
Directing:
The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants, Alexander Payne
Hugo, Martin Scorsese
Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen
The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
Documentary (Feature):
Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated
Documentary (Short Subject):
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
God Is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
Film Editing:
The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Foreign Language Film:
Bullhead (Belgium)
Footnote (Israel)
In Darkness (Poland)
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
A Separation (Iran)
Makeup:
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Iron Lady
Music (Original Score):
The Adventures of Tintin
The Artist
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse
Music (Original Song):
"Man or Muppet" from The Muppets
"Real in Rio" from Rio
Short Film (Animated):
Dimanche/Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life
Short Film (Live Action):
Pentecost
Raju
The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic
Sound Editing:
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse
Sound Mixing:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse
Visual Effects:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Writing (Adapted Screenplay):
The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Writing (Original Screenplay):
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Margin Call
Midnight in Paris
A Separation
Video: The Artist trailor.
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