The Queen to battle with Bond

The Queen is set to go head to head with 007 at Britain's biggest film awards later.Casino Royale, the 21st film in the Bond franchise, has nine Bafta nominations.The Queen, the story about the Royal Family in the aftermath of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, is up for ten gongs.Dame Helen Mirren, 61, is favourite to land the best actress title for her portrayal of the monarch.Her strongest competition is Dame Judi Dench, 72, for her part as a lonely but twisted history teacher in Notes On A Scandal.Daniel Craig, 38, who won over critics and fans in his role as 007 after criticism when he was announced as the new Bond, is up for the best actor title.He faces competition from Peter O'Toole for Venus, Forest Whitaker in The Last King Of Scotland, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed and Richard Griffiths for The History Boys.In the best film title, The Queen is up against another British movie, The Last King Of Scotland which is about Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.Ensemble piece Babel, Martin Scorsese's film The Departed, and black comedy Little Miss Sunshine are also in the running.United 93 - the true story of the United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11 2001 - is up for Outstanding British Film of the Year.Other contenders for the title are Casino Royale, The Last King Of Scotland, Notes On A Scandal, and The Queen.Nominees confirmed to grace the red carpet include Winslet, Cruz, Dame Judi, Dame Helen, Craig, Emily Blunt and Leslie Phillips.Other stars expected include Sienna Miller, Bond beauty Eva Green, Emily Watson, Sir Ian McKellen, Thandie Newton, Ricky Gervais, Michael Sheen and Jamie Bell.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | February 11, 2007

Tags:. .richard griffiths. .last king. .miss sunshine. .notes. .forest whitaker