Getty Images file

Susan Boyle and Samantha Barks.

Scottish singer Susan Boyle will get her first turn on the big screen in the British holiday period film "The Christmas Candle," the movie's producers said on Thursday.

Boyle, 51, will back up Samantha Barks, Hans Matheson and Lesley Manville in the Christmas film that began production this week on location in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.

The film, based on the novella by Max Lucado, tells the tale of an enchanted Christmas candle in Gladbury, a dull village that must confront the dawning of the 20th century and a new, skeptical minister.

There was no information on what role the singer will play.

"Everyone on set is a delight to work with and it's a fantastic experience to be part of the team," Boyle said in a statement.

Slideshow: Susan Boyle wows the world

Andrew Milligan / AP

Launch slideshow

"I'm really enjoying getting dressed in the period costumes and stepping back in time and although it's very cold filming on location, I'm wearing long johns under my bustle," she added.

The singer became an overnight international sensation in 2009 after appearing on variety show "Britain's Got Talent" and performing a flawless rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables."

Her rendition has been viewed hundreds of millions of times on YouTube, and her life story from unknown Scot to multi-million-selling recording artist has itself been made into a musical.

Barks was most recently in the 2012 film production of "Les Miserables." Matheson's credits include 2010's "Clash of the Titans" while Manville is best known for 2010's "Another Year."

"The Christmas Candle," directed by John Stephenson, is produced by Impact and Big Book Media and will be distributed in the United Kingdom by Pinewood Productions.

More in NBC News Entertainment:

• 'Pretty in Pink' characters now old enough to have adult kids of their own
• 'We Saw Your Junk' is viral response to Oscars 'Boobs' song
• Tina Fey, Seth MacFarlane both won't host Oscars, so who should?

Anne Hathaway is a world-famous movie star -- and now an Oscar-winning actress -- but that doesn't mean she's immune to insecurity. In fact, she may be more vulnerable than anyone. Though the 30-year-old star has been praised in recent months for her spectacular performance in the epic movie musical "Les Miserables," she has also been criticized for what some believe is a false, cloying sense of earnestness in her awards show appearances.

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Anne Hathaway accepts the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in "Les Miserables."

Speaking to reporters backstage after winning the best supporting actress Academy Award on Feb. 24, Hathaway admitted to feeling hurt by the backlash. "It does get to me," she confessed. "But you have to remember in life that there's a positive to every negative and a negative to every positive."

PHOTOS: What the stars wore to the 2013 Oscars

"The miracle of the universe is that, as far as they know, there's 51 percent matter versus 49 percent anti-matter -- things tip in the scale of the positive," she continued. "So that is what I focus on."

PHOTOS: All the hottest Oscars afterparties

The star -- who beat out fellow nominees Sally Field, Jacki Weaver, Helen Hunt, and Amy Adams -- then went on to say that she tries not to let other people's criticism change the way she approaches her own relationships. "I live my life with love," she explained. "I live my life with compassion. I live my life hoping the best for absolutely everyone, no matter how they feel about me. And when you live that way, it's amazing how beautiful every day can be."

PHOTOS: Anne's style evolution

Indeed, Hathaway's life has seemed especially charmed recently. Prior to her successful awards season run, the actress married Adam Shulman in September 2012. Addressing her now-husband as she accepted her Oscar on Sunday, she gushed, "By far the greatest moment of my life was the one when you walked into it. I love you so much."

Related content:

• 5 most shocking MacFarlane Oscar lines
• Lawrence goes back to black hair after Oscars
• The Onion sorry for offensive Wallis tweet

Many of this year's Oscar-nominated films are based on true stories ("Lincoln," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Argo") or on well-known novels ("Les Miserables," "Life of Pi"). And as you can imagine, it's easy for those stories to put a twist on a tale -- often intentionally, for drama's sake -- not telling it the way it was in real life or in an earlier book.

Those changes mostly go unnoticed unless you're really familiar with the source material, but we found five notable ones.

Sony Pictures

The SEALs in "Zero Dark Thirty" made too much noise, says a man who should know.

1. Osama bin Laden raid was too noisy in 'Zero Dark Thirty'
Who can you believe about the death of Osama bin Laden if not the man who killed Osama bin Laden? That former Navy SEAL spoke to Esquire magazine and saw the movie for the first time with Phil Bronstein, who wrote the Esquire article. He pointed out some minor errors -- the dog on the real mission was a Belgian Malinois, not a German Shepherd and the night-vision goggles worn by the SEALs in the film didn't exist when bin Laden was killed. But his biggest correction? The real SEALs went about their mission in silence. In the movie, a SEAL loudly yells "Breacher!" when he wants someone to blow a door at the compound, and characters call out bin Laden's name. In real life, the SEALs storming the Pakistan terrorist compound tried to keep as quiet as possible, for obvious reasons.

2. No one chased the plane onto the runway in 'Argo'
Kathleen Stafford, one of two women among the six Americans rescued from Iran in the events that inspired "Argo," told the Washington Post that the film Hollywooded up her actual experiences. "Argo" is full of fictionalized sections -- in real life, the six were split between two homes, not just the Canadian ambassador's, for one thing, and Canada's role is downplayed in the film in order to make the CIA look like more of a player. But perhaps the most dramatic scene in the film, where Iranian revolutionaries drive out on an airport runway chasing a departing plane just as it lifts off, never happened. Tony Mendez, the real CIA operative played by Ben Affleck, reports that the airport departure was "smooth as silk," with only a minor mechanical problem slightly delaying takeoff, not gun-waving revolutionaries.

Warner Bros.

"Argo" added drama to its airport scene.

3. Connecticut wasn't pro-slavery as shown in 'Lincoln'
Unless you live in the Nutmeg State, you probably didn't notice how Connecticut voted on the Thirteenth Amendment in the movie "Lincoln." But Rep. Joe Courtney sure did. He wrote a letter to director Steven Spielberg complaining that two out of three Connecticut votes are seen being cast against abolishing slavery. In real history, all four votes from his state were pro-abolition. (The film's screenwriter acknowledged he changed the facts.) A Lincoln historian pointed out that the film actually got a lot of things right, including Lincoln's enjoyment of a certain bathroom joke. The historian's quibbles were minor: Mary Todd Lincoln's teeth were too white, the word "sniper" would not have been used, General Lee did not surrender from horseback, and Abe Lincoln didn't swear so much.

4. Was that song really in 'Les Mis'?
Fans of the "Les Miserables" musical know it backwards and forwards. They know what someone who's never seen "Les Mis" on stage wouldn't -- that the song "Suddenly," about Valjean's love for adopted daughter Cosette, isn't in the stage show. But that's hardly a goof, it's an intentional addition. Since it was an original piece for the film, "Suddenly" was the one song eligible to be nominated for a best original song Oscar. (We're guessing it will lose to Adele's "Skyfall.") Fans seem to like the new song. As theologian Mark Roberts points out, it's smartly written and the title hearkens back to a word in Victor Hugo's novel.

5. Samuel L. Jackson's favorite swear word didn't exist in 'Django' days
Much of the controversy surrounding "Django Unchained" was about its near-constant use of the n-word. But another term drew attention too. You know it: Starts with "mother," incorporates a famous f-word. Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Leonardo DiCaprio's creepy slave-hating slave Stephen, says it four times in "Django," but according to IMDb.com, that expression was unlikely to have been used until World War I. Mother--oh, never mind.

Weinstein Company

Samuel L. Jackson's favorite swear word wasn't around in slavery times.

What's your pick for best picture? Vote in our poll, and tell us on Facebook.

Related content:

• Video: ‘Lincoln’, ‘Argo’ expected to win big
• Daniel Day-Lewis is best actor of his generation
• 5 tips for winning your Oscar pool
• Adele set to perform 'Skyfall' at Oscars
• Slideshow: Oscar nominees in high school

Scarlett Johansson dreamed the dream she'd star in a sweeping movie about a beloved stage musical. The 28-year-old actress reveals that she was up for the part of Fantine in "Les Misrables," the coveted role that eventually went to Anne Hathaway and which is now nabbing the star every acting award in sight.

Universal, Getty Images

Anne Hathaway, left, as Fantine in "Les Miserables," and Scarlett Johansson.

Johansson spilled the beans to Broadway.com, which flat-out asked her whether she had auditioned for the part.

"Yes, I did. I sang my little heart out," she answers matter-of-factly.

Taylor Swift no longer cast in Les Misrables

When pressed whether the audition was terrifying, the actress says she didn't betray a hint of stage fright.

"No, are you kidding? The jazz hands kid inside me was just over the moon!" she explained.

Unfortunately, the audition didn't quite go as planned.

"I auditioned with laryngitis," she reveals. "I did everything I could to, like, not have laryngitis."

Anne Hathaway: My Les Misrables Performance Is "eh"

Nowadays, though, Johansson takes a more pensive -- and gracious -- approach to losing the role.

"I think, looking at the film now, there's no possible way I ever could have topped that performance [by Anne Hathaway]. It was perfect and I think fateful and meant to be," she offers.

"But, yes, the audition itself brought back so many memories of auditioning for 'Les Mis' for the young Cosette"-- role in the stage musical that she had apparently tried out for when she younger -- "and it was fun for me to revisit that."

Adam Lambert is not a fan of Les Mis' vocal performances

Interestingly, the rumor mill was indeed churning with reports that Johansson was up for a role in 'Les Mis' -- but not as Fantine.

Insiders had reportedly pegged her to be duking it out for the role of doomed ingnue Eponine with the likes of Taylor Swift and Evan Rachel Wood -- a part that eventually went to newcomer Samantha Barks.

And although Hathaway is considered the frontrunner for this year's best supporting actress Oscar, Johansson did also manage to score some Academy love for her vocal prowess -- albeit not for a Fantine-role-that-wasn't-meant-to-be: The actress lent her voice to the Oscar-nominated song "Before My Time," which is featured on the acclaimed climate-change documentary "Chasing Ice."

Check out more pics from 'Les Mis!'

Related content:

• Johansson: Marriage is 'really not important to me'
• 'Les Mis' Hathaway parody eager for Oscar consideration

Somebody likes her. Somebody really, really likes Anne Hathaway. Thus far, those someones include the Screen Actors Guild, the Hollywood Foreign Press and the Critics Choice voters, all of whom have given the co-star of "Les Miserables" serious accolades in the run-up to the Academy Awards (for which she's nominated as a best supporting actress for her role as the doomed Fantine).

Now you can add to the list another list of names: The filmmakers behind a hilarious, altered-lyrics parody of Hathaway's movie-stopping performance of "I Dreamed a Dream." (For those who haven't seen the film, Hathaway's Fantine belts out the tune in a single take shot that focuses solely on her face and shoulders.)

"For Your Consideration" stars Emma Fitzpatrick ("The Collection," "The Social Network"), who has been appropriately grunged up, wears a waif haircut and sports a pretty decent voice as she belts out lyrics like: "I coughed and wheezed and cried in every scene until I died." And, "I lost half my body weight but then they never did a wide shot."

It took eight takes to get the one they liked, Fitzpatrick told The Global Post, noting that she didn't originate the parody concept. The video's director, Alberto Belli, got writer Robert Hill to rewrite the lyrics, "and a mutual friend of ours knew I had short hair and could sing," she said.

And so she does, belting out later: "... And though I had to blow my nose, I did it all in one take, b----!"

"Everything builds really beautifully to that moment," said Fitzpatrick. "That line came flowing out of my mouth very naturally."

Despite poking a bit of fun at the performance, it's true: Fitzpatrick really likes Hathaway. "I thought her performance (in "Les Miserables") was awesome," she said. "As someone in the public eye, you have to be able to take a joke and laugh at yourself. There was no malicious intent."

The 85^th Annual Academy Awards airs live Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.

Related content:

• Anne Hathaway: 'I had no grit, no sex appeal'
• Adam Lambert slams 'Les Miserables' stars
• Barbra Streisand to sing on Oscars show

Previously on the long-running drama we call Awards Season: Ben Affleck's "Argo" is an early Oscar best picture favorite until Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" arrives. Then Affleck gets clotheslined by the directing branch of the Academy leaving "Lincoln" sitting pretty. Until "Argo" surges at the Golden Globes.

Warner Bros., DreamWorks

Ben Affleck in "Argo," left, and Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln."

All this brings us to our new episode, also known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

SAG Award nominations: snubs and surprises

Here's a look at the storylines that could emerge from Sunday's show:

"Lincoln" reemerges as, well, "Lincoln": It wins the ensemble award, reminds that the Globes are just the Globes (a contest reflecting the views of exactly zero Oscar voters), and continues on its presidential way toward the best picture prize on Feb. 24. If you take stock in such things, this is is how oddsmakers and pundits think Sunday will go.

"Argo" gives "Lincoln" a lot to think about: On the heels of its Globes success, it wins the ensemble award, and demonstrates how deep the affection for the 1970s-vibing thriller runs among Affleck's fellow actors, or as they are more properly referred to this time of year: the largest voting branch of the Academy.

10 best SAG Award stars ever

"Silver Linings Playbook" gives "Lincoln" and "Argo" a lot to think about: It wins the ensemble award (an ensemble, mind you, that the aforementioned acting branch of the Academy showered with four nominations), emerges as the new best picture candidate to beat, and reaffirms just how good Harvey Weinstein is at this sort of thing -- i.e., blindsiding Spielberg. (See: "Saving Private Ryan's" stunning 1998 best picture loss to "Shakespeare in Love.")

"Les Miserables" gives oddsmakers a lot to think about: It wins the ensemble award, reclaims its Christmastime mojo and likely perks up on the best picture leader board after falling out of a dead heat with "Lincoln."

"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" gives everyone a lot of to think about: If this no-shot best picture contender, which was not nominated for the Academy's top prize, wins the ensemble award, it will make an unpredictable awards season a real, live mystery.

18 years of SAG Award winners

More movie news:

• Fans rejoice: J.J. Abrams to direct new 'Star Wars'
• Dick Van Dyke to get lifetime award at SAGs

The Academy Awards are a lively, high-spirited event, but many of the films nominated Thursday morning feature grim topics. From the waterboarding of "Zero Dark Thirty" to the desperation and revolution of "Les Miserables," movies this time around were rewarded for tackling dark subject matter with skill. Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" led all comers with 12 nominations, with Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" next with 11.

Slideshow: Oscar nominees

Launch slideshow

Up to 10 films can be nominated in the best picture category, and this year, nine were chosen. "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Silver Linings Playbook" and "Amour" were three of the lesser-known titles making the cut. "Zero Dark Thirty," "Lincoln," "Les Miserables," "Life of Pi," "Django Unchained" and "Argo" were among the other films in the best picture category.

The best actress category offers a chance for history, as it features both the oldest (Emmanuelle Riva, 85, for "Amour") and youngest (Quvenzhane Wallis, now 9, for "Beasts of the Southern Wild") nominees ever in that category. (Tatum O'Neal, 10, won the best supporting actress award for "Paper Moon" in 1974 -- and Justin Henry was only 8 when he was nominated for best supporting actor in "Kramer vs. Kramer," but he didn't win.) But Jessica Chastain is likely to be favored in that category for her role as a CIA agent in "Zero Dark Thirty." Also nominated there are Naomi Watts for "The Impossible" and Jennifer Lawrence for "Silver Linings Playbook."

Many of the names Oscar watchers expected to hear were indeed called. Anne Hathaway was figured early on to be a favorite in the best supporting actress category for her role as Fantine, who sells her body, hair and teeth to save her daughter in the adaptation of the beloved stage musical. She's nominated, as is Sally Field, who plays Mary Todd Lincoln in "Lincoln," another expected name. Others in the category are Jacki Weaver for "Silver Linings Playbook," Helen Hunt for "The Sessions," and Amy Adams for "The Master."

MacFarlane, Stone made Oscar nods a must-see

Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays the title role in "Lincoln," will easily be named the favorite in the best actor category. Also nominated there were Hugh Jackman for "Les Miserables," Denzel Washington for "Flight," Bradley Cooper for "Silver Linings Playbook" and Joaquin Phoenix for "The Master." Phoenix was snubbed in the same category by the Screen Actors Guild award nominations.

Cooper called in to TODAY to talk with Al Roker, Willie Geist and Natalie Morales after hearing his name called. 

"The funny thing is how I sort of talked myself into how I wasn't going to get up (for the announcements)," he told the anchors. "But cut to: It's like 4:30 in the morning, and I'm just puttering around the house, and then I got my mom up and my dog, and then we were watching."

Christoph Waltz was nominated for best supporting actor for his role as a dentist turned bounty hunter in Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained." Waltz won the best supporting actor Oscar in 2010 for his role in another Tarantino film, "Inglourious Basterds." Also nominated in his category: Philip Seymour Hoffman for "The Master," Robert DeNiro for "Silver Linings Playbook," Tommy Lee Jones for "Lincoln" and Alan Arkin for "Argo."

Tarantino himself was not named in the best director category, nor was Ben Affleck, whom many expected to see there for his work on "Argo," or Kathryn Bigelow, for "Zero Dark Thirty." Steven Spielberg was nominated for "Lincoln," Ang Lee for "Life of Pi," David O. Russell for "Silver Linings Playbook," Michael Haneke for "Amour" and Benh Zeitlin for "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

While the snubs of Affleck, Bigelow and Tarantino bothered some, Bradley Cooper told the TODAY anchors he was thrilled that Russell was nominated for "Silver Linings Playbook."

"I kind of lost it watching," Cooper said of hearing Russell's name called. "His heart is in that movie."

In past years, the best original song category has been shrunk to as few as two nominees, but this year it was filled out with five. "Skyfall," singer Adele's song for the latest James Bond movie, is the best-known of the group. She'll compete against "Before My Time" from "Chasing Ice" (a documentary about climate change), "Pi's Lullaby" from "Life of Pi," "Suddenly" from "Les Miserables" and "Everybody Needs a Best Friend," from "Ted."

Oscar host Seth MacFarlane and actress Emma Stone read the nominations, and MacFarlane, who stars in and directed "Ted," was notably pleased that a song from his film was included. "That's kinda cool," MacFarlane said. "I get to go to the Oscars now."

Animated fim nominees are "Wreck-It Ralph," "Frankenweenie," "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," "Brave" and "Paranorman."

Original screenplay nominees were "Flight," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Django Unchained," "Amour" and "Moonrise Kingdom." Adapted screenplay nominees were "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Lincoln," "Argo," "Life of Pi" and "Silver Linings Playbook."

Foreign film nominees included the French-language "Amour," which also shows up in the best picture category, as well as Chile's "No," Canada's "War Witch," Norway's "Kon-Tiki" and Denmark's "A Royal Affair." 

The Academy Awards ceremony will be held Feb. 24 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Related content:

• No strippers! Snubs and surprises from Oscar nominations
• 'Hunger Games' eats up People's Choice Awards
• Adele to return to spotlight at Golden Globes
• 'Twilight' gets a nod in every Razzie category

Dreamworks via AP

Sally Field and Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln."

"Lincoln", the story of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to end slavery starring Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, won 10 BAFTA nominations on Wednesday, putting it ahead of the pack at Britain's top film honors.

The biopic was shortlisted in categories including best film, actor, supporting actor (Tommy Lee Jones) and supporting actress (Sally Field), but director Steven Spielberg was not nominated.

Added to its domination of the Golden Globe contenders going into Sunday night's awards ceremony, British critics said the film appeared to be in pole position to sweep Oscar nominations which are announced on Thursday.

"Les Miserables", the movie version of the global hit stage musical, and shipwreck saga "Life of Pi" followed with nine BAFTA nominations each, while the latest installment of James Bond, "Skyfall", garnered eight.

Iranian hostage thriller "Argo" won seven nominations and "Anna Karenina", an adaptation of the Russian novel, earned six.

Quentin Tarantino's quirky slavery-era Western "Django Unchained" and "Zero Dark Thirty," about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, were just behind with five nominations apiece.

"Amour," Austrian director Michael Haneke's moving portrayal of death, bagged four nominations, an unusually high number for a film in a foreign language.

Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, the company behind "Les Miserables" and "Anna Karenina," said he was pleased that two potentially risky projects had been recognized.

"Les Miserables," by Oscar-winning director of "The King's Speech" Tom Hooper, was sung live on set, while Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina," starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law, was set against the backdrop of elaborate stage sets.

"We knew that it was a much-loved musical and there was a large part of the world's population who were also aware of the book," Fellner said of "Les Miserables" after the BAFTA nominations were announced.

"But it didn't stack up as a mainstream movie because over the past decades very few (musicals) have worked. It was a big risk," he told Reuters, adding that awards recognition could provide a big lift for a picture just hitting theaters now.

Of Anna Karenina, he added: "The minute you do anything different it becomes harder to get it made. But we really believe in our film makers." 

"Skyfall's" Judi Dench was nominated for best supporting actress as Bond's spymaster M and Spanish actor Javier Bardem was nominated for best supporting actor as the villain Silva. 

There is likely to be disappointment, however, that the movie which has become the most successful in British box office history, with critical acclaim to match, was not included on the most coveted shortlist -- best film. 

That award will be contested by "Argo,"" Lincoln," "Life of Pi," "Les Miserables" and "Zero Dark Thirty."

Up for best actor alongside Day-Lewis is Ben Affleck ("Argo"), Bradley Cooper ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Hugh Jackman ("Les Miserables") and Joaquin Phoenix in "The Master." 

The best actress award is between 85-year-old Emmanuelle Riva ("Amour"), Helen Mirren ("Hitchcock"), Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Jessica Chastain ("Zero Dark Thirty") and Marion Cotillard ("Rust and Bone").

As well as Haneke and Affleck, Ang Lee is in the running for best director ("Life of Pi") as is Tarantino and Kathryn Bigelow ("Zero Dark Thirty").

The BAFTAs have a patchy record in predicting which films go on to scoop the biggest movie honours, the Oscars, although last year the main winner in London, "The Artist,"  also swept to success at the Academy Awards.

The awards ceremony for the BAFTAs, formally called the EE British Academy Film Awards, takes place in London on Feb. 10.

Related content:

• 'Twilight' tops list of 2013 Razzies
• Spielberg, Affleck among Directors Guild nominees
• A-list grub on Golden Globes menu
• 'Lincoln,' 'Django Unchained,' 'Argo' among Golden Globe nominees

Chris Pizzello / AP file

"Lincoln" director Steven Spielberg.

Steven Spielberg ("Lincoln"), Tom Hooper ("Les Miserables"), Kathryn Bigelow ("Zero Dark Thirty"), Ang Lee ("Life of Pi") and Ben Affleck ("Argo"): There were no surprises in Tuesday's nominations for the 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards.

Unless, that is, you're a fan of "Django Unchained," "The Master" or "Silver Linings Playbook," in which case there were unhappy surprises.

Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson and David O. Russell were among those who failed to rate in the most critical of Oscar tuneups.

'Silver Linings Playbook' has better luck with Writers Guild

The DGA class of 2013 runs the gamut of past winners to Affleck, who has his first-ever nod from the filmmaking group.

All five nominees and their films have long been counted as safe bets for the Academy Awards. Nominations for the big show of big shows are due out Thursday.

The DGA Awards is unsurpassed as an Oscar predictor: It's been more than a decade since a DGA winner didn't rate the same prize from the Academy.

Just how sad is 'Les Mis'?

The exclusions of Tarantino, Anderson and Russell are notable, but not necessarily surprising, with only Russell's "Silver Linings Playbook" considered a top-tier Best Picture candidate.

If the DGA field holds at the Oscars, then the road gets even longer for those on the outside looking in. The last film to win Best Picture without a nominated director was 1989's "Driving Miss Daisy."

The 65th DGA Awards are scheduled to be presented Feb. 2.

20 must-see movies you must see before Oscar Night 2013

More movie news:

• 'Django' action figures stir up controversy
• 'Zero Dark Thirty' filmmakers stand their ground
• Globes menu: A-list grub, 6,500 flutes of bubbly

Universal, Sony, Dreamworks

"Les Miserables," "Zero Dark Thirty," and "Lincoln."

Steven Spielberg's presidential drama "Lincoln," musical "Les Miserables" and Kathyrn Bigelow's Osama bin Laden thriller "Zero Dark Thirty" were among 10 films earning Producers Guild Award nominations on Wednesday, as the Hollywood awards season gathered momentum.

Ben Affleck and George Clooney, two of the producers behind Affleck's Iran hostage drama "Argo," and the team that brought Quentin Tarantino's darkly humorous slavery Western "Django Unchained" to the screen also won nods for the awards handed out by the Producers Guild of America.

The critically acclaimed James Bond blockbuster "Skyfall," which last weekend surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, got a big boost to its Oscar hopes when producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson were included.

They joined an eclectic list that featured Ang Lee's shipwreck tale "Life of Pi," and quirky comedy "Silver Linings Playbook."

Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," and mythical indie film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" rounded out the feature film nominations, the PGA said in a statement.

The Producers Guild Awards will be handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Jan. 26 and will be a key indication of Hollywood sentiment ahead of the Oscars on Feb. 24.

Many of the PGA-nominated movies are expected to feature strongly on the list of Oscar nominations when those are announced on January 10. Eight of the movies are also in the running for best picture Golden Globe trophies on Jan. 13.

But the PGA had nothing for "The Hobbit" from director Peter Jackson. It also left early awards hopeful "The Master" out of the running in a sign that the cult tale starring Philip Seymour Hoffman may be losing steam in Hollywood.

Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" also failed to make the list.

The PGA nominated the producers of five films for its animated movie honors -- Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie," Disney family films "Wreck-it-Ralph" and "Brave," and "ParaNorman" and "Rise of the Guardians."

The PGA also named its picks for producers of television movies and miniseries. Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story," the team behind HBO film "Game Change" about Sarah Palin's 2008 vice presidential bid, and Britain's modern twist on detective Sherlock Holmes "Sherlock" were among the five making the cut.

They were joined by "Hatfields & McCoys," about a legendary family feud starring Kevin Costner who was also one of the producers, and the PBS chronicle of the 1930s drought "The Dust Bowl."

Related content:

• 'Lincoln,' 'Argo' among Golden Globe nominees
• 'Lincoln,' 'Les Mis' among SAG nominees
• 'Lincoln' forces moviegoers to care about politics
• 'Zero Dark Thirty' agent passed over for promotion
• 'Les Miserables' dreams a dream, and dreams big

Carlo Allegri / REUTERS

Anne Hathaway.

Anne Hathaway admits that although the world once thought of her as a sweet former Disney princess, she never felt like that herself.

“For a long time it was me and (my manager) against the world. I was seen as this bizarre-world good-girl cartoon that I in no way identified with -- very vanilla, very sweet, very accessible and not interesting,” she told Harper’s Bazaar UK, as excerpted by the Daily Mail. “I had no grit, no sex appeal.” 

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The L=lovely Anne Hathaway!

Anne may now be the kind of girl who wears bondage-style boots to her “Les Miserables” New York City premiere, but she admitted to feeling the heat in Hollywood when asked about her age -- 30. 

“It doesn’t help that the new crop of girls is so gorgeous and so 22 years old. But I’m excited about it,” she said.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Young Hollywood: Then & now

In addition to talking about her image and her age, the actress showed her softer side when talking about her husband, Adam Shulman, whom she wed in 2012.

“He walks into a room, and I light up. I can’t help it,” she said. “A few days into (filming "Les Miserables") I said ‘I’m having too much fun. I just want to play with you and I need to be really sad right now.’ 

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Anne Hathaway & Adam Shulman: A love story

“I knew from the second I met him that he was the love of my life,” she added.

Related content:

• Anne Hathaway calls wardrobe mishap 'unfortunate'
• VIDEO: Anne Hathaway reveals first post-'Les Mis' meal
• Hathaway: I gave paparazzi the finger at my wedding

Efrem Lukatsky / AP

Adam Lambert.

So, did Adam Lambert really want to play Jean Valjean or something? The " American Idol" alum was pretty harsh about the "Les Miserables" cast's vocal skills, tweeting Sunday that the music "suffered massively (because of) great actors PRETENDING to be singers."

"It's an opera," he clarified. "Hollywood movie musicals treat the singing as the last priority. (Dreamgirls was good)"

Anne Hathaway rates her 'Les Mis' performance as 'eh'

"And I do think it was cool they were singing live- but with that cast, they should have studio recorded and sweetened the vocals," he wrote, adding, "I felt like I should ignore the vocals and focus on the emotional subtext- but the singing was so distracting at times it pulled me out."

Lambert was impressed with Anne Hathaway's vocals, describing her performance as "breathtaking."

He also mused that "the industry will say 'these actors were so brave to attempt singing this score live' but why not cast actors who could actually sound good?"

Check out more pics from 'Les Mis'

"Sorry for being so harsh," he wrote. "but it's so True!"

Hey, everyone's entitled to their opinion.

Related content:

• 'The Hobbit' trumps star-packed 'Les Miserables' at box office
• 'Les Mis,' 'Django' openings could help Hollywood reach record year at box office
• Sacha Baron Cohen 'failed' first 'Les Miserables' audition at age 20
• 'Les Miserables' dreams a dream, and dreams big