British Theatre Stars Storm the Globes???

The nominations for the 66th Golden Globe Awards were unveiled this morning, with many categories betraying a distinctly theatrical flavour. For example, screen-to-stagers Mamma Mia! and Frost/Nixon received seven nominations between them, while British theatre stalwarts including Stephen Daldry, Sam Mendes, David Hare and Martin McDonagh all found themselves or their projects amongst the nominees.

Frost/Nixon, the film version of Peter Morgan‘s acclaimed Donmar Warehouse play which subsequently transferred to the West End and Broadway, received five nominations, for Best Motion Picture, Drama, Best Dramatic Actor (Frank Langella), director (Ron Howard), screenplay (Peter Morgan) and score (Hans Zimmer). Meanwhile Mamma Mia!, adapted from the international bestselling musical based on the songs of ABBA, is up for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, and Best Actress, Musical or Comedy (Meryl Streep).

Playwright David Hare is nominated for his screenplay The Reader, for which Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry also received a nomination (for direction). Hare and Daldry collaborated in 2002 on The Hours, for which they were both nominated for Oscars. Daldry goes head-to-head in the direction category with former Donmar Warehouse supremo and American Beauty director Sam Mendes, who is nominated for his new film Revolutionary Road, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

The Golden Globes are seen as a barometer for the Oscars, so here’s hoping there could be more British success to celebrate come February. The Golden Globe Awards will take place on January 11, 2009 at The Beverly Hilton.