The actress said of her many award nods in recent months: "You never for a moment start taking it for granted. With Bafta, they have a way of being rather wayward sometimes and so it’s never to be expected. I’m absolutely delighted."

She praised the "elegance and intelligence" of the script, which has given the film a nomination for best Original Screenplay.

And she added that at first she "was frightened, terrified on a personal and professional level because of the enormous potential pitfalls" of the movie.

"I’m not a great mimic. When the project was first suggested to me there was no script. In theory, if it’s a challenge and it terrifies me, then I should do it.

"But I thought I’d wait for the script. I didn’t want it to be cheap, sycophantic or grovelling or attacking or cruel."

British dames up for US film awards - Jan 5 2007
Dame Helen Mirren picked up two more major award nominations for her regal roles in The Queen and Elizabeth I.

The star’s performance as the present monarch will see her compete against fellow Brits Dame Judi Dench and Kate Winslet for the best actress award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 28.

All three were also nominated in the equivalent Golden Globes category last month - Dame Judi for Notes On A Scandal and Winslet for Little Children.

The guild also gave Dame Helen the nod in the TV movie or miniseries category for her title role in Elizabeth I.

Irish-born Peter O’Toole is up for best actor his portrayal of an ageing actor in Venus.

Jeremy Irons was nominated for his portrayal of the Earl of Leicester in Elizabeth I, while Hugh Laurie was shortlisted in the comedy series category for his caustic doctor in House.

Overall, ensemble drama Babel, the musical Dreamgirls and road-trip jaunt Little Miss Sunshine led the field with three nominations each.

Leonardo DiCaprio equalled Dame Helen’s tally with two nods - best actor for Blood Diamond and supporting actor for The Departed.

The American version of The Office was nominated for best comedy ensemble and Steve Carell, who plays embarrassing boss Michael Scott, is up for best actor in a comedy series.

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, who picked up a Golden Globe nomination as best actor for a comedy or musical for Borat, was snubbed.

Golden Globe nominations for Brits - Dec 14 2006
British stars picked up a slew of nominations for the Golden Globe awards today, with The Queen and Borat both riding high.

Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Judi Dench and Kate Winslet will fight a three-way battle for the best actress gong.

They were nominated for The Queen, Notes On A Scandal and Little Children respectively.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s fictional Kazakh journalist Borat earned him a best actor in a comedy nod and a best comedy nomination for the film.

He will be up against Chiwetel Ejiofor for his role in Kinky Boots.

The Queen was nominated for best picture while Stephen Frears got a best director nod for the film.

Irish-born actor Peter O’Toole was nominated for best actor in a drama for Venus.

Dame Helen also picked up nominations for the title role in the TV miniseries Elizabeth I and best actress in a TV miniseries or movie for Prime Suspect: The Final Act.

She, Dame Judi and Winslet will go up against Penelope Cruz, for her role in Volver, and Maggie Gyllenhaal for Sherrybaby.