FORMER Shameless star James McAvoy, waif Keira Knightly and ever-so-English Helena Bonham Carter are among the Brits in the running at the Golden Globes.

They are nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress awards for their roles in Atonement and Sweeney Todd.

Atonement collected seven nominations in all, including Best Director for Joe Wright and Best Supporting Actress for Saoirse Ronan.

British director Ridley Scott is also nominated for his film American Gangster.

The thriller starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe is among the seven nominees for Best Film (drama) along with Atonement, Eastern Promises, The Great Debaters, Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood.