'Chicago' Leads SAG Nominations

It'll be a couple weeks before we find out what Oscar thinks, but the actors have already narrowed down their choices for the ninth annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, announced Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Leading the pack was the musical "Chicago," which earned notices for Outstanding Male Actor for Richard Gere, Outstanding Female Actor for Renee Zellweger, Outstanding Supporting Female Actor for both Catherine-Zeta Jones and Queen Latifah, and Outstanding Acting Ensemble.

For the lead actor category, Gere will take on Adrien Brody for "The Pianist," Nicolas Cage for "Adaptation," Daniel Day-Lewis for "Gangs of New York" and Jack Nicholson for "About Schmidt."

Facing off against Zellweger for the female lead SAG are Julianne Moore for "Far From Heaven," Nicole Kidman for "The Hours," Salma Hayek for "Frida" and Diane Lane for "Unfaithful."

Surprising absent from both the lead and supporting categories was Meryl Streep, who has won several awards for her lead work in "The Hours" and supporting work in "Adaptation."

Instead, her co-star in "The Hours," Julianne Moore, was nominated for her role in the Virginia Woolf-themed drama. Joining Moore, Zeta-Jones and Latifah in the Supporting Female Actor category are Kathy Bates for "About Schmidt" and Michelle Pfeiffer for "White Oleander."

Meanwhile, critics favorite Chris Cooper was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Male for his role in "Adaptation." Cooper will take on Alfred Molina for "Frida," Ed Harris for "The Hours," Dennis Quaid for "Far From Heaven" and Christopher Walken for "Catch Me if You Can."

Taking on Chicago in the ensemble category are the casts from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," "The Hours" and "Adaptation."

The event, which also honors acting achievements in television, stages March 9 in Los Angeles.