Meryl Streep receives 17th Oscar nomination

Meryl Streep will go up against Rooney Mara, Glenn Close, Michelle Williams and Viola Davis in the Best Actress category at this year's Academy Awards.

Meryl Streep has been nominated for the Best Actress prize at this year's Academy Awards.

The two-time Oscar-winning star has won a nomination for her portrayal of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the Phyllida Lloyd-directed 'The Iron Lady'.

Meryl will go up against Glenn Close, Rooney Mara, Michelle Williams and Viola Davis.

George Clooney is up for two separate Oscars, firstly for his performance in 'The Descendants' and secondly for Best Adapted Screenplay with 'Ides of March'.

In the Best Actor category he will go up against Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, Jean Dujardin and Damien Bichir.

Nine movies are up for Best Picture; 'War Horse', 'The Artist', 'Moneyball', 'The Descendants', 'The Tree of Life', 'Midnight in Paris', 'The Help', 'Hugo' and 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'.

In the Best Supporting Actor category are Kenneth Branagh, Jonah Hill, Nick Nolte, Christopher Plummer and Max von Sydow.

Among the surprises in this year's nominations are a lack of nod for Michael Fassbender in 'Shame' and two potential prizes for standout 2011 comedy 'Bridesmaids' - Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy and another for Original Screenplay.

The 84th Academy Awards will take place at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on February 26.

Full list of nominees at the 84th Academy Awards:

Actor in a Leading Role