Ricky nominated for top US award

Ricky Gervais has been nominated for a Golden Globe award for his work in The Office.

After cleaning up at most UK award shows over the past couple of years, he is now the only Brit to be nominated for best TV actor in a comedy.

And the show, screened on the minority cable channel BBC America, has been nominated for best comedy - a first for a foreign-produced series.

Gervais faces competition from Friends star Matt LeBlanc, Bernie Mac, Will And Grace's Eric McCormack and Tony Shalhoub from Monk.

Others vying for the title of best TV comedy or musical series are Arrested Development, Monk, Sex And The City and Will And Grace.

Nominated for best TV actress in comedy series are Bonnie Hunt (Life with Bonnie), Reba McEntire (Reba), Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City), Bitty Schram (Monk), Alicia Silverstone (Miss Match).

The Golden Globes are best known for their film categories, widely seen as a precursor to the Oscars. Civil war epic Cold Mountain leads the nominations with eight.

Brit flicks Bend It Like Beckham and Love Actually have been nominated for best comedy film, alongside Big Fish, Finding Nemo and Lost In Translation

The awards will be handed out in Los Angeles on January 25.

Published: 18 Dec 2003