SCOTTISH actor James McAvoy was a stunning omission today from the list of Oscar nominees.

The Drumchapel-born star had been widely tipped to receive a Best Actor nomination after his film Atonement's success at the Golden Globes.

But when the names were revealed in Los Angeles at 1.30pm the four nominations were George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee Jones and Viggo Mortensen.

McAvoy's co-star in Atonement, Keira Knightley, also missed out, failing to get a Best Actress nomination.

MAIN NOMINATIONS BEST ACTOR: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood), George Clooney (Michael Clayton), Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd), Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises), Tommy Lee Jones (In The Valley Of Elah). BEST ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age), Julie Christie (Away From Her), Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose), Laura Linney (The Savages), Ellen Page (Juno). BEST PICTURE: Atonement, No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Michael Clayton and Juno. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James), Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War), Hal Holbrook (Into The Wild), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton). BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There), Ruby Dee (American Gangster), Saoirse Ronan (Atonement), Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone), Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton).

But there was double delight for Australian Cate Blanchett, who was nominated in two categories - Best Actress for her lead role in Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Best Supporting Actress in I'm Not There.

One Scots actress nominated was Tilda Swinton - wife of playwright John Byrne - who is up for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Michael Clayton.

The awards are due to take place on February 24 in Los Angeles, but there are fears the biggest night in the Hollywood calendar could be hit by the strike involving script writers.