VERY DIFFERENT MOVIES, SAME SAG NODS.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

The drama ``Babel,'' the musical ``Dreamgirls'' and the comedy ``Little Miss Sunshine'' each received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations Thursday, further boosting Academy Award prospects for this trio of diverse movies.

The casts of those films, as well as those of ``The Departed'' and ``Bobby,'' will compete for the prestigious outstanding performance by a cast prize, SAG's equivalent to a best picture award. Last year's cast award went to ``Crash'' and proved to be a key indicator that the film could upset front-runner ``Brokeback Mountain'' for the best picture Oscar.

The nominations are determined by panels of more than 2,000 actors randomly selected by the guild for the movie and television categories for awards to be handed out Jan. 28.

``Actors really know what you go through, what it takes and about the hardships, so I personally feel like this is the best award to get,'' said Sandra Oh, who announced the nominees with Elijah Wood at the Pacific Design Center and was nominated as a cast member of ``Grey's Anatomy.''

Leonardo DiCaprio was the day's only triple nominee in the motion picture categories including two individual nominations. DiCaprio got a leading actor nod for ``Blood Diamond'' and a supporting actor and cast nomination for ``The Departed.'' The supporting nomination means the actor will not have to compete against himself in the best actor category, which he must do at the Golden Globe Awards later this month.

DiCaprio's competition for best actor is Ryan Gosling (``Half Nelson''), Peter O'Toole (``Venus''), Will Smith (``The Pursuit of Happyness'') and Forest Whitaker (``The Last King of Scotland'').

Double nominee Helen Mirren was nominated for best actress in a movie for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in ``The Queen,'' and for Queen Elizabeth in ``Elizabeth I.''

``It is a true honor to receive this type of recognition from one's peers,'' Mirren said in a statement. ``It is an honor that I not only appreciate but respect. I was extremely proud and grateful to be a part of both productions.''

Her competition in the movie category is Penelope Cruz (``Volver''), Judi Dench (``Notes on a Scandal''), Meryl Streep (``The Devil Wears Prada''), and Kate Winslet (``Little Children'').

Two of the three nominations for ``Babel'' came in the best supporting actress category, with Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi each receiving nods. Their co-star Cate Blanchett will be competing in the category for another film: ``Notes on a Scandal.'' Rounding out the category are Abigail Breslin, the child star of ``Little Miss Sunshine,'' and Jennifer Hudson, the breakout performer in ``Dreamgirls.''

Eddie Murphy, taking a break from family films, earned a supporting actor SAG nod for his role in ``Dreamgirls.'' He squares off against DiCaprio, Alan Arkin (``Little Miss Sunshine''), Jackie Earl Haley (``Little Children''), and Djimon Hounsou (``Blood Diamond'').

Steve Carell also received three SAG nominations that bridge both television and film. He's up for best actor in a comedy series for ``The Office'' and will compete in the cast categories for ``The Office'' and ``Little Miss Sunshine.''

In the television movie category for actresses, Mirren was joined by Annette Benning (``Mrs. Harris''), Greta Scacci (``Broken Trail'') and two veteran actresses who also happen to be Academy Award winners: Cloris Leachman (``Mrs. Harris'') and Shirley Jones (``Hidden Places'').

While Leachman last received a SAG nod just two years ago, the nomination was especially gratifying for Jones, an Oscar winner for ``Elmer Gantry'' more than 40 years ago, who has had trouble breaking free from her wholesome ``Partridge Family'' image.

``It's a nice feeling to know that after all these years, my fellow actors think I have something to say and give to the business,'' Jones said from her Encino home. ``The hard part for me always was to graduate from Mrs. Patridge to these kinds of roles. It's a big step for producers and directors of today who remember me from the show.''

In the outstanding actor in a television movie or miniseries category, Matthew Perry got a nod for the Lifetime movie ``The Ron Clark Story.'' He will compete with Thomas Haden Church and Robert Duvall (``Broken Trail''), Jeremy Irons (``Elizabeth I'') and William H. Macy (``Nightmares & Dreamscapes'').

Outstanding actress in a drama series nominee Kyra Sedwick (``The Closer'') said she was happy to be able to celebrate with husband Kevin Bacon, who directed an episode of the TNT drama last season.

``Kev is here, and it doesn't feel as real when he's not here,'' she said. ``I'm beyond thrilled. It's great to be nominated. We're all a band of brothers and sisters celebrating good work.''

Sedwick was nominated for a SAG award a year ago for her role as LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, as well as for two consecutive Golden Globes and an Emmy.

Oh dashed backstage after reading the announcement to inform co-star Chandra Wilson that she had been nominated for drama series actress, an award Oh won last year.

``She was really excited -- and now she has to go to work,'' Oh said. `` It's gonna be a great day.''

Greg Hernandez [phone]

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(1 -- 2) Leonardo DiCaprio is nominated in three Screen Actors Guild categories -- one for ``Blood Diamond,'' two for ``The Departed'' -- and Helen Mirren received two nominations for playing two different British monarchs in ``The Queen'' and ``Elizabeth I.''

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THE NOMINEES

Associated Press