Angels in America boasted an impressive cast

Shown in the UK on Channel 4, it has been nominated for best mini series and best casting among others.

UK star Emma Thompson and Al Pacino are nominated for best actress and actor for their roles in the drama. It narrowly beat strong competition from mob drama The Sopranos which was nominated for 20 awards.

Political drama The West Wing - which won its fourth Emmy for best drama last year - got 12 nominations, while Sex And The City was the most nominated sitcom with 11 nods.

Main nominees Angels In America - 21 The Sopranos - 20 The West Wing - 12 Deadwood - 11 Sex And The City - 11

Sarah Jessica Parker, who played Carrie Bradshaw in the now ended Sex And The City, was nominated for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series.

Her co-stars, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon, were all nominated in the best supporting actress category.

Sex And The City is joined in the comedy category by offbeat family sitcom Arrested Development, Will & Grace, Curb Your Enthusiasm and last year's Emmy winner Everybody Loves Raymond.

Frasier and Friends which finished this year after more than a decade on television were not nominated for best comedy series.

Outstanding drama series contenders this year are The Sopranos, The West Wing, 24 and CSI, along with new challenger Joan of Arcadia, about a teenage girl who communicates with God.

Sarah Jessica Parker was nominated for her role in the sitcom

Alias star Jennifer Garner is nominated for best actress in a drama series alongside Amber Tamblyn, for Joan of Arcadia and Mariska Hargitay, for Law and Order Special Victims.

Also nominated are Eddie Falco for The Sopranos and Allison Janney from The West Wing.

James Gandolfini, who was named best lead actor in a drama series last year for his role in The Sopranos, was nominated again.

He is joined by Anthony LaPaglia of Without a Trace, Martin Sheen of The West Wing, James Spader of The Practice and 24's Kiefer Sutherland.

British talent

British talent has also been recognised in the nominations.

Alan Rickman and Helen Mirren are nominated for best actor and actress in a mini-series - for roles in Something the Lord Made and Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness.

Tracey Ullman is nominated for outstanding individual performance in a variety programme for her show The Trailer Tales, which has a further three nominations.

John Cleese is recognised for his guest appearance in sitcom Will & Grace, while Julie Andrews has been nominated for her role as a nanny in TV movie Eloise At Christmastime.