'Help,' 'Descendants' lead SAG Award nods

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- "The Artist," "The Help" and "The Descendants" earned multiple Screen Actors Guild Award nominations in Los Angeles Wednesday.

The casts of the three films will compete in the Best Ensemble category with the stars of "Bridesmaids" and "Midnight in Paris."

Nominated for the Lead Actor SAG award are Demian Bichir for "A Better Life," George Clooney for "The Descendants," Leonardo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar," Jean Dujardin for "The Artist" and Brad Pitt for "Moneyball."

In the running for the Lead Actress accolade are Glenn Close for "Albert Nobbs," Viola Davis for "The Help," Meryl Streep for "Iron Lady," Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and Michelle Williams for "My Week with Marilyn."

The nominees for the Supporting Actress honor are Berenice Bejo for "The Artist," Jessica Chastain for "The Help," Melissa McCarthy for "Bridesmaids," Janet McTeer for "Albert Nobbs" and Octavia Spencer for "The Help."

Up for the Supporting Actor award are Kenneth Branagh for "My Week with Marilyn," Armie Hammer for "J. Edgar," Jonah Hill for "Moneyball," Nick Nolte for "Warrior" and Christopher Plummer for "Beginners."

The 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS Jan. 29.