Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has been nominated for best actress in a motion picture-drama at the 63rd Golden Globe Awards, it was announced on Tuesday. 

The Chinese star has been flooded with accolades for her performance in the film adaptation of Arthur Golden's 1997 novel Memoirs of a Geisha.

Set in pre-World War II Kyoto, the film follows the story of a poor fisherman's daughter, Chiyo, played by Zhang Ziyi, who is sold to a geisha house.

Other contenders for Best Actress include Maria Bello for A History of Violence, Felicity Huffman for Transamerica, Gwyneth Paltrow for Proof and Charlize Theron for North Country.

The Golden Globe Awards honour excellence in film and television and are considered an important guide to predicting results at the Oscars.

(CRI December 14, 2005)