`Mystic River' and `The Station Agent' lead nominations for Screen Actors Guild awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ "Mystic River" and "The Station Agent" collected three Screen Actors Guild nominations Thursday, including best ensemble cast. <br><br>Peter Dinklage, the diminutive star of "The Station

Thursday, January 15th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ "Mystic River" and "The Station Agent" collected three Screen Actors Guild nominations Thursday, including best ensemble cast.

Peter Dinklage, the diminutive star of "The Station Agent," received a lead actor bid.

Patricia Clarkson picked up bids for both supporting actress for playing an angry cancer patient in "Pieces of April" and lead actress in "The Station Agent" for her portrayal of a lonesome artist.

In addition to best ensemble, the actors' guild equivalent to a best picture category, "Mystic River" was recognized for Tim Robbins' supporting turn as the survivor of childhood sexual abuse who finds himself the suspect of murder and Sean Penn received a lead actor nomination for playing the reformed gangster whose daughter is slain.

Other ensemble contenders: "In America," "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and "Seabiscuit."

The 10th annual ceremony is set to take place in Los Angeles on Feb. 22. The guild's nominations are the last major awards announcement before the Academy Awards nominations Jan. 27.

SAG nominations are chosen by 4,200 randomly chosen members of the union. The guild's full membership of 98,000 is eligible to vote for winners.