Nicole's thrilled - it rounds off her year in a great way

Kidman's publicist Catherine Olim

The lavish musical tops the shortlist with six nominations, including best musical or comedy film, and a best actor nod for Ewan McGregor.

Romantic drama A Beautiful Mind, starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, joins Moulin Rouge at the top of the list with six nominations.

They include best dramatic film, while both Crowe and Connelly also have best actress and actor nominations.

Kidman's Moulin Rouge co-star Ewan McGregor is also nominated

Billy Bob Thornton equals Kidman's feat with two best actor nods - for The Man Who Wasn't There and Bandits.

The nominations were announced on Thursday morning in Los Angeles.

Kidman's publicist Catherine Olim said: "I woke Nicole up in the middle of the night in Australia and she was absolutely thrilled.

"It rounds off her year in a great way - she was not expecting the nominations."

Oscar indicators

Best dramatic picture

A Beautiful Mind In The Bedroom The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring The Man Who Wasn't There Mulholland Drive

Other contenders for prizes at the ceremony - which will be held next month - include Robert Altman's Gosford Park, which received five nominations including best musical or comedy.

Dame Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren also picked up best supporting actress nominations for their part in the film.

The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Rings and David Lynch's Mulholland Drive had four nominations each - including best dramatic picture.

The awards are in 24 categories - 13 for film and 11 for TV.

The film prizes - which are divided between musical/comedy and dramatic categories - are usually seen as a good indicator as to who will be nominated for Academy Awards in February.

Crowe's view: A Beautiful Mind is released in the UK in February

The other two dramatic best picture nominees were In The Bedroom and The Man Who Wasn't There, while the musical or comedy choices also included Bridget Jones's Diary, Legally Blonde and Shrek.

Will Smith, Kevin Spacey and Denzel Washington complete the dramatic actor nominees, for Ali, The Shipping News and Training Day.

Kevin Spacey said his nomination was "a great Christmas present".

Host's shock

Competing with Nicole Kidman for best dramatic actress are Halle Berry (Monster's Ball), Dame Judi Dench (Iris), Sissy Spacek (In The Bedroom) and Tilda Swinton (The Deep End).

Best musical or comedy film

Bridget Jones's Diary Gosford Park Legally Blonde Moulin Rouge Shrek

Renee Zellweger gets a best musical or comedy actress nod for Bridget Jones's Diary. As well as Kidman for Moulin Rouge, she faces Thora Birch (Ghost World), Cate Blachett (Bandits) and Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde).

Facing Ewan McGregor and Billy Bob Thornton in the best musical/comedy actor category are Gene Hackman (The Royal Tenenbaums), Hugh Jackman (Kate and Leopold), and John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and The Angry Inch).

Hugh Jackman reacts to being nominated

The nod was a shock for Jackman - he was one of those announcing the nominations.

"I owe my wife a hundred bucks now," he quipped.

British talent

British stars to be nominated in the supporting categories include Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent (Iris), Ben Kingsley (Sexy Beast) and Jude Law (AI).

Kinglsey has also been nominated for best actor in a TV movie or mini-series for Anne Frank.

French movie Amelie leads the best foreign language film nominations.

But despite its huge success, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone does not appear on the shortlist.

In the TV nominations, The West Wing and The Sopranos are on the best drama series shortlist, while Ally McBeal, Frasier, Friends, Sex And The City and Will & Grace fight it out in the musical or comedy category.