British actors have triumphed at the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles, sowing the annual seeds of hope that the nation's talent will be rewarded at the Oscars next week.

Veteran performers Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen won best supporting actor awards, while the mainly British ensemble cast of Gosford Park won best cast performance, and a television award went to Oscar-nominated Ben Kingsley.

The Screen Actors Guild awards are the last set of gongs before the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 24. Chosen by the guild's 98,000 members they are considered an indicator of the whims of the academy members who will decide the Oscars. Eight British actors are up for golden statuettes next week, including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent.

McKellen, 62, won the Screen Actors Guild best supporting actor for his role as Gandalf, in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. He is tipped to win an Oscar for the role.

Mirren, 56, took best supporting actress for her role as the housekeeper in Gosford Park. "In medieval Britain actors were called rogues and vagabonds, no matter how we look tonight," she said, downplaying the possibility that she will add an Oscar to the guild award next week.

Gosford Park also won the best cast performance award, which is the nearest thing to a best film prize at the awards. The mostly British ensemble included Emily Watson, Derek Jacobi and Michael Gambon.

Ben Kingsley, 58, won the award for best actor in a television film or mini-series for his role as Otto Frank in the drama, Anne Frank. He is Oscar-nominated for his supporting role in the British gangster film Sexy Beast.

The best actor award went to the Australian Russell Crowe, for his role as mathematics genius John Forbes Nash Jr in A Beautiful Mind. Crowe is favourite to take the best actor Oscar for the second year running - only the third actor to do so after Spencer Tracy and Tom Hanks.

Halle Berry surprised the industry by winning the best actress award for her portrayal of a down-and-out southern waitress in Monster's Ball, beating Sissy Spacek, who was tipped for In the Bedroom.

The guild gave major awards to all five films competing for the best picture Oscar, ensuring speculation will continue until the ceremony.

Winners in Los Angeles

Films

Actor Russell Crowe, A Beautiful Mind

Actress Halle Berry, Monster's Ball

Supporting actor Sir Ian McKellen, Lord Of The Rings

Supporting actress Helen Mirren, Gosford Park

Cast Gosford Park

Television

Actor in TV movie or mini-series Ben Kingsley, Anne Frank

Actress in TV movie or mini-series Judy Davis, Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows.

Actor in a drama series Martin Sheen, The West Wing

Actress in a drama series Allison Janney, The West Wing

Actor in a comedy series Sean Hayes, Will & Grace

Actress in a comedy series Megan Mullally, Will & Grace

Ensemble in a drama series The West Wing

Ensemble in a comedy series Sex And The City

Lifetime award Edward Asner