Cate Blanchett, 'Into the Wild' Lead SAG Nominations

After its final season, The Sopranos is also recognized in three top TV categories

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty; Ciao Pix/INF

Cate Blanchett was recognized for leading- and supporting-actress performances, and Into the Wild earned four top nods as the nominations for the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced Thursday.

Just as she did at the Golden Globe nominations, Blanchett earned SAG nods for her turns in Elizabeth: The Golden Age and I’m Not There. Meanwhile, Into the Wild, the story of a young man’s trip into the wilderness of Alaska, was the only film to boast nominations for a lead-acting performance (Emile Hirsch for best actor) as well as best ensemble cast.

Appearing on Live with Regis and Kelly shortly after the announcement, Hirsch quipped that he was nervous on the way over – until he heard the news. “It’s great. … I’m less nervous and getting a little cocky now,” he said.

Into the Wild also earned nominations for supporting actor Hal Holbrook and supporting actress Catherine Keener.

The other four films nominated for best ensemble cast were 3:10 to Yuma, America Gangster, Hairspray and No Country for Old Men.

No Country for Old Men also scored two nominations in the supporting-actor category: for Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones.

In the leading-actress film category, Blanchett was joined by Marion Cotillard for La Vie En Rose, Julie Christie for Away From Her, Angelina Jolie for A Mighty Heart and Ellen Page for Juno.

In addition to Hirsch, leading-actor nominations in film went to George Clooney for Michael Clayton, Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood, Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl, and Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises.

Sopranos Send-Off

In the TV-drama categories, The Sopranos was given a nice send-off after its final season, earning nominations for leading actor (James Gandolfini), leading actress (Edie Falco) and best ensemble cast. (Only Falco was recognized at the Golden Globe nominations.)

The other four best-ensemble contenders for a TV drama were Boston Legal, The Closer, Grey’s Anatomy and Mad Men.

In the TV-comedy category, the shows nominated for best ensemble cast were 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office, and Ugly Betty.

Alan Rosenberg, president of the Screen Actors Guild, introduced actors Jeanne Tripplehorn and Terrence Howard, who announced the nominations, and is pleased the show will go off as normal.

“We signed an interim agreement with the WGA,” he said regarding the ongoing writers strike. “So, yeah, we will have writers. We’re fully sanctioned by the Writer’s Guild, and actors have no reason not to show up for our awards show.”

The 14th Annual SAG Awards will air Jan. 27 on TNT and TBS.