"We knew that it was a much-loved musical and there was a large part of the world's population who were also aware of the book," Fellner said of Les Miserables after the BAFTA nominations were announced.

"But it didn't stack up as a mainstream movie because over the past decades very few (musicals) have worked. It was a big risk," he told Reuters, adding that awards recognition could provide a big lift for a picture just hitting theatres now.

'Zero Dark Thirty' among AFI best films

Life of Pi offers food for thought

Of Anna Karenina, he added: "The minute you do anything different it becomes harder to get it made. But we really believe in our film makers."

Skyfall's Judi Dench was nominated for best supporting actress as Bond's spymaster M and Spanish actor Javier Bardem was nominated for best supporting actor as the villain Silva.

There is likely to be disappointment, however, that the movie which has become the most successful in British box office history, with critical acclaim to match, was not included on the most coveted shortlist - best film.

That award will be contested by Argo, Lincoln, Life of Pi, Les Miserables and Zero Dark Thirty.

Related: 'Zero Dark Thirty' screenplay among Writers Guild nominees

Up for best actor alongside Day-Lewis is Ben Affleck (Argo), Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables) and Joaquin Phoenix in Scientology tale The Master.

'Anna Karenina' premieres in Hollywood

The best actress award is between 85-year-old Emmanuelle Riva (Amour), Helen Mirren (Hitchcock), Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) and Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone).

As well as Haneke and Affleck, Ang Lee is in the running for best director (Life of Pi) as is Tarantino and Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty).

The BAFTAs have a patchy record in predicting which films go on to scoop the biggest movie honors, the Oscars, although last year the main winner in London, "The Artist", also swept to success at the Academy Awards.

The awards ceremony for the BAFTAs, formally called the EE British Academy Film Awards, takes place in London on February 10.