THE NOMINEES

BEST ACTOR

Russell Crowe

“A Beautiful Mind”

The New Zealand-born Crowe, 37, receives his third best actor nomination in a row, this time for his performance as the schizophrenic mathematics genius John Nash. Crowe won the Academy Award for best actor last year for “Gladiator” and was nominated the previous year for “The Insider.”

Sean Penn

“I Am Sam”

This is the third Academy Award nomination for the outspoken Penn, 41, who came to fame 20 years ago in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” The nomination comes for his performance as a mentally challenged man fighting for the custody of his young daughter. Penn previously was nominated for Oscars for “Dead Man Walking” and “Sweet and Lowdown.”

Will Smith

“Ali”

The first rapper to be nominated for a best actor Oscar, the 33-year-old Smith portrayed the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann’s biopic. Smith, who starred in the TV series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” before making the leap to the big screen, was also nominated for a Golden Globe for “Ali.”

Denzel Washington

“Training Day”

The Oscar-winning actor, 47, is nominated for best actor for his role as a corrupt undercover L.A. narcotics detective in the action thriller. Washington has received a total of five Oscar nominations, previously for “Cry Freedom” in 1987, “Glory” in 1989 --for which he won best supporting actor--”Malcolm X” in 1992 and “The Hurricane” in 1999.

Tom Wilkinson

“In the Bedroom”

The 54-year-old British actor garners his first Academy Award nomination for his turn as a successful doctor and happily married man whose life falls apart when tragedy hits his family. Wilkinson, who is nominated for a SAG Award, appeared in the 1997 best picture nominee “The Full Monty” and the 1998 best picture winner, “Shakespeare in Love.”

BEST ACTRESS

Halle Berry

“Monster’s Ball”

Berry, the first runner-up in the 1986 Miss USA pageant, receives her first best actress nomination for her role as a death-row inmate’s widow who falls in love with the guard who executed her husband. Berry, 33, got her first big movie break 11 years ago playing a crack addict in “Jungle Fever.”

Judi Dench

“Iris”

The 67-year-old British actress is nominated for her second best actress Academy Award, thanks to her performance as the Alzheimer’s-stricken writer Iris Murdoch. Dame Dench previously was nominated for best actress for “Mrs. Brown” and for supporting actress last year for “Chocolat.” She won the supporting actress Oscar for 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love.”

Nicole Kidman

“Moulin Rouge”

Kidman, 34, is the recipient of her first Oscar nomination for her role as a dying courtesan in Baz Luhrmann’s musical drama. Kidman, who began acting in Australia as a teenager, won the Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy or musical for “Moulin Rouge.” She was also nominated in the Globe category of best actress in a drama for “The Others.”

Sissy Spacek

“In the Bedroom”

The best actress winner for 1980’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Spacek receives her sixth nomination in this category, this time for her performance as a controlling mother whose well-ordered life falls apart when a family member dies. Spacek, 52, was previously nominated for “Carrie” in 1976, “Missing” in 1982, “The River” in 1984 and “Crimes of the Heart” in 1986.

Renee Zellweger

“Bridget Jones’s Diary”

The Texas-born actress, 32, gained 20 pounds and perfected a British accent for her Oscar-nominated role as a thirtysomething “singleton” looking for Mr. Right in the comedy based on Helen Fielding’s best-selling novel. Zellweger, whose first starring role was opposite Tom Cruise in “Jerry Maguire,” has also been nominated by SAG.

BEST DIRECTOR

Robert Altman

“Gosford Park”

Altman, who will celebrate his 77th birthday on Feb. 20, receives his fifth best director nomination, for the ensemble comedy-drama-mystery he shot in England. Altman, who received his first nomination in this category 31 years ago for “MASH,” also received nominations for “Nashville” in 1975, “The Player” in 1992 and “Short Cuts” in 1993.

Ron Howard

“A Beautiful Mind”

The former child actor is the recipient of his first best director nod for the biographical drama about the mentally troubled genius John Nash. The 47-year-old Howard, who made his directorial debut with 1977’s “Grand Theft Auto,” received the Golden Globe for best director for “A Beautiful Mind” and is nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award. He received the DGA Award for 1995’s “Apollo 13.”

Peter Jackson

“Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”

The 40-year-old Jackson garners his first best director Oscar nomination for bringing J.R. Tolkien’s fantasy to life. The New Zealand native began making movies at the age of 8 when his parents bought a Super 8 movie camera. Jackson has been nominated for a DGA Award for the first in a trilogy of movies based on Tolkien’s books.

David Lynch

“Mulholland Drive”

The critics’ darling, the 56-year-old Lynch receives his third Oscar nomination for best director, for his erotic, puzzling murder mystery that began its life as a TV pilot for ABC. Lynch, who came to fame with the cult fave “Eraserhead,” previously was nominated for “The Elephant Man” and “Blue Velvet.” Lynch received best director honors from the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.

Ridley Scott

“Black Hawk Down”

The 64-year-old British director receives his second best director nomination in a row, for his war epic set in Somalia in 1993. Scott was nominated last year for “Gladiator” and was also nominated in this category for 1991’s “Thelma & Louise.” Scott, who began his career as a set designer for the BBC in the 1960s, made his feature film directorial debut with 1977’s “The Duelists.” He is also nominated for a DGA Award for “Black Hawk Down.”

Listing of the rest of the nominees, next page.