Irish actor Michael Fassbender has been nominated for a BAFTA

Irish actor Michael Fassbender has been nominated for a BAFTA for his role in the movie '12 Years a Slave'.

(Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o and Chiwetel Ejiofor in '12 Years A Slave')

His co-star and the film's lead Chiwetel Ejiofor has also been nominated for the best actor Bafta, while the film’s director Steve McQueen was also recognised with a nomination.

Ejiofor faces competition for the leading actor gong from veteran Bruce Dern for his role in Nebraska and Hollywood stars Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.

McQueen's tale of slavery in America's deep south is heavily tipped to do well at this year's awards season and was also nominated for best film alongside hit movies including 'American Hustle' and 'Gravity'.

Killarney native Fassbender is nominated alongside Bradley Cooper and Matt Damon in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Meanwhile 'Philomena', the Stephen Frears movie about the life of Limerick woman Philomena Lee is nominated in the Best Film category.

Dame Judi Dench is nominated for the leading actress award for her role in 'Philomena' along with American Hustle’s Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Emma Thompson and Sandra Bullock.

Comic and actor Steve Coogan is also nominated for best adapted screenplay for his work with Jeff Pope on 'Philomena'.

Nominations were announced at a ceremony at Bafta’s HQ in central London this morning by Hobbit star Luke Evans and Helen McCrory from the Harry Potter films.

The event, formally known as the EE British Academy Film Awards, is held in London on Sunday February 16.

2014 BAFTA Nominees

Best Film

12 Years a Slave

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Gravity

Philomena

Outstanding British Film

Gravity

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Philomena

Rush

Saving Mr Banks

The Selfish Giant

Best Actor

Christian Bale (American Hustle)

Bruce Dern (Nebraska)

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)

Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)

Best Actress

Amy Adams (American Hustle)

Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Judi Dench (Philomena)

Emma Thompson (Saving Mr Banks)

Best Supporting Actor

Barkhad Adbi (Captain Phillips)

Daniel Bruhl (Rush)

Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)

Matt Damon (Behind the Candelabra)

Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)

Best Supporting Actress

Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)

Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)

Oprah Winfrey (The Butler)

Best Director

Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)

Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips)

Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)

David O Russell (American Hustle)

Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Best Adapted Screenplay

12 Years a Slave

Behind the Candelabra

Captain Phillips

Philomena

The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Original Screenplay

American Hustle

Blue Jasmine

Gravity

Inside Llewyn Davis

Nebraska

Best Documentary

The Act of Killing

The Armstrong Lie

Blackfish

Tim's Vermeer

We Steal Secrets

Best Animated Film

Despicable Me 2

Frozen

Monsters University

Rising Star Award

Dane DeHaan

George MacKay

Lupita Nyong'o

Will Poulter

Lea Seydoux

SOURCE-IRISH NEWS