'Joker' leads the pack for BAFTA 2020 nominations

The British Academy announced its nominees and the hit Joaquin Phoenix film again comes out as favourite

The British Academy has announced its nominees for its upcoming film awards, two days after British talent dominated the winners at the Golden Globes.

Joaquin Phoenix's Joker leads the pack with 11, closely followed by The Irishman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood with 10. Director Sam Mendes' 1917 lingers just behind with 9, reported the Hollywood Reporter.

Phoenix, who won Best Actor at Golden Globes over the weekend, will also be the favourite for Best Actor for his role in Joker at BAFTA. The hit film tells the origin story of Batman's nemesis, which divided some critics and audiences.

PHOTO: FILE

But the star will face competition from stars including Taron Egerton, who played Sir Elton John in Rocketman, as well as Leonardo DiCaprio for Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Adam Driver for Marriage Story and Jonathan Pryce for The Two Popes.

Joaquin Phoenix wins best actor at Golden Globes 2020

Elsewhere, Australian beauty Margot Robbie will compete against herself in the Best Supporting Actress category, nominated for both Bombshell and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

That category also includes Scarlett Johansson for Jojo Rabbit, while she is also up for Best Actress for her role in Netflix's divorce drama Marriage Story.

PHOTO: FILE

The other Best Actress nominees are Renee Zellweger for playing Judy Garland in Judy, Jessie Buckley for Wild Rose, Charlize Theron for Bombshell, and Saoirse Ronan for Little Women.

However, there is no room for Little Women film-maker Greta Gerwig in the Best Director category, making it the seventh year in a row that no female directors have been nominated.

BAFTA winners and nominees in most categories are voted for by 6,500 BAFTA members, who are industry professionals and creatives around the world.

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