British actors lead the hopefuls at Baftas.

THE Constant Gardener, the British film based on the John le Carre novel, has stolen the limelight from the Hollywood blockbusters with 10 Bafta nominations.

Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes, stars of the pounds 11 million romantic thriller set in Africa, are up for best actress and actor.

Blockbusters like King Kong, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and The Chronicles of Narnia missed out on the main British Academy award categories.

Instead the likes of gay cowboy flick Brokeback Mountain, Crash, the movie which caused a stir for tackling the subject of racial tension, and Good Night, and Good Luck, directed by George Clooney, are up for Bafta glory.

Clooney's second film as a director, Good Night, and Good Luck, is the true story of a US television producer's battle against authorities during the anti-communist witch hunts.

It bagged six nominations, including a best director and supporting actor nomination for Clooney.

The 44-year-old also has another shot in the supporting actor category for his role in the politically-charged epic Syriana.

The announcement at the Bafta headquarters in London's Piccadilly surprised fans of Keira Knightley, who expected the young actress to get a nomination for her role in Pride and Prejudice.

The film is up for six awards, including a supporting actress nomination for Keira's co-star Brenda Blethyn for her role as Mrs Bennet.

Other hopefuls were Memoirs of a Geisha, the film based on the best-selling book, and the drama Capote.

The Baftas, which have enjoyed a new lease of life since they were brought forward before the Oscars, will be hosted by Stephen Fry at the Odeon Leicester Square next month.

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Rachel Weisz - has already won a Golden Globe for her role' Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes have both landed Bafta nominations for their performances in The Constant Gardener