The Artist

The Artist

Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist and Alexander Payne’s The Descendants led the pack as Hollywood unveiled the nominees for the 84th Academy Awards.

With the red carpet awards ceremony scheduled to take place on Sunday 26th February, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power today chalked up their favourites across a number of categories.

First up in the Best Film category silent movie The Artist is the 3/10 hot favourite to grab the Oscar followed by The Descendants at 4/1, War Horse at 10/1 and Hugo at 14/1.

The biggest surprise in this category was the nomination of Stephen Daldry’s 9/11 drama Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, starring Tom Hanks at 33/1.

In the Best Actor and Best Actress category, there were few surprises as both George Clooney and seventeen-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep received a nod for their roles in The Descendants and The Iron Lady.

In the Best Director category Michel Hazanavicius is the 8/13 favourite over the legendary Martin Scorsese at 15/8 and Alexander Payne at 5/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: "Today’s Oscar nominations threw up all the names we expected to see but there were a few surprises in there also.

"It’ll be interesting to see what way the Academy vote across all the many categories."

Notable UK actors in the running to receive an Oscar this year include Gary Oldman at 20/1 for his role in ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ and Kenneth Branagh at 6/1 for his role in My Week With Marilyn’. 

Best Picture

3/10 The Artist
4/1  The Descendants
10/1  War Horse
14/1  Hugo
20/1  The Help
25/1  Midnight In Paris
33/1  Moneyball
33/1  Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close
40/1  The Tree Of Life

Best Director
8/13 Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
15/8  Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
5/1  Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
16/1  Terrence Malick (The Tree Of Life)
16/1  Woody Allen (Midnight In Paris)

Best Actor
4/9  George Clooney (The Descendants)
7/4  Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
11/1  Demian Bichir (A Better Life)
14/1  Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
20/1  Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)

Best Actress
4/9  Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
3/1  Viola Davis (The Help)
7/2  Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn)
20/1  Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
22/1  Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)

Best Supporting Actor
1/12 Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
6/1  Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn)
12/1  Nick Nolte (Warrior)
12/1  Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)
25/1  Jonah Hill (Moneyball)

Best Supporting Actress
1/8  Octavia Spencer (The Help)
6/1  Berenice Bejo (The Artist)
10/1  Jessica Chastain (The Help)
12/1  Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)
16/1  Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)

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