And The 2006 Academy Award Nominations Are...

The 79th Annual Academy Award nominations were announced this morning at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California. As usual, there were a few surprises. In an upset, "Dreamgirls", which leads the pack with eight nominations, was not up for Best Picture.

You can find a complete list of nominees in all categories HERE.

Here are the major nominees:

Best Picture

"Babel"

"The Departed"

"Letters From Iwo Jima"

"The Queen"

"Little Miss Sunshine"

Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio - "Blood Diamond"
Ryan Gosling - "Half Nelson"
Peter O'Toole - "Venus"
Will Smith - "The Pursuit of Happyness"
Forest Whitaker - "The Last King of Scotland"

Best Actress

Penelope Cruz - "Volver"
Judi Dench - "Notes on a Scandal"
Helen Mirren - "The Queen"
Meryl Streep - "The Devil Wears Prada"
Kate Winslet - "Little Children"

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin - "Little Miss Sunshine"
Jackie Earle Haley - "Little Children"
Djimon Hounsou - "Blood Diamond"
Eddie Murphy - "Dreamgirls"
Mark Wahlberg - "The Departed"

Best Supporting Actress

Adriana Barraza - "Babel"
Cate Blanchett - "Notes on a Scandal"
Abigail Breslin - "Little Miss Sunshine"
Jennifer Hudson - "Dreamgirls"
Rinko Kikuchi - "Babel"

Best Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu - "Babel"
Martin Scorsese - "The Departed"
Clint Eastwood - "Letters from Iwo Jima"
Stephen Frears - "The Queen"
Paul Greengrass - "United 93"

As I said, "Dreamgirls" had the most nominations with eight - (no Best Picture or Best Director.) "Babel" was second with seven nominations. Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy and Mark Wahlberg all picked up their first nomination. Meryl Streep is the most nominated actress ever - this is her 14th nomination.

This is the first year in a long time that there isn't a clear front runner in the Best Picture category. This is really anybody's race this year - which could mean some surprises are in store for the show - which airs Sunday - Feb. 25th on ABC. Hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.