Meryl Streep's performance in the political drama The Iron Lady has earned the veteran Hollywood star another Oscars nod, it was revealed today.

Streep's nomination for her portrayal of the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher means she has extended her world record for most Academy Awards nominations for an actor to an incredible 17 - five more than both Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson, who are tied in second-place.

Nominations for this year's Oscars were announced this morning by actress Jennifer Lawrence and Academy President Tom Sherak in Los Angeles.

The list was headed by Martin Scorsese's Paris adventure "Hugo" which received eleven nominations, among them best picture and best director.

Should Scorsese's 3D movie scoop the award in each of the 11 categories it is competing in it would match the achievements of Ben Hur, Titanic and Lord of The Rings which all jointly hold the record for most Oscars won by a film.

Sixty-two-year-old Streep has won two Oscars but the last time she triumphed at the awards was for Sophie's Choice 29 years ago.

Her last nomination came in 2009 for her role as cook Julia Child in Julia & Julie.

The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on 26 February hosted by comedy actor Billy Crystal.