Top British film Billy Elliot suffered a cruel double Oscars blow this afternoon.

The heartwarming movie about a schoolboy dancer in the North-East missed out on a Best Film Oscar nomination when they were announced in Hollywood.

And the hugely popular low-budget film's teenage star Jamie Bell, 14, was a shock omission in the Best Actor category.

But Julie Walters, who plays his dance teacher, has been put forward for Best Supporting Actress, director Stephen Daldry is nominated and the film's also up for Best Original Screenplay.

British director Ridley Scott was nominated for Roman epic Gladiator - which is up for 12 awards - while Dame Judi Dench could get Best Supporting Actress for Chocolat.

Brit star Albert Finney has a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Erin Brockovich.

Chocolat, Gladiator, Erin Brockovich, Traffic and Taiwanese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon are nominated for Best Film.

Stephen Soderbergh is nominated twice in the Best Director category for his work on Traffic and Erin Brockovich. It's the first time since 1938 that one director's been nominated for two films.

Julia Roberts is hoping to pick up her first Oscar for Erin Brockovich, while Tom Hanks is trying to make it three after receiving a Best Actor nomination for Cast Away.

The nominations were announced by Kathy Bates in Los Angeles - at 5.30am local time.

The Oscar ceremony will be hosted by US comic actor Steve Martin in Hollywood on March 25.