Considering how churlishly Dame Helen Mirren criticized the BAFTA television awards soon after accepting the SAG trophy for her TV film role in HBO's "Elizabeth I" back in January, she's probably not too surprised to see what's missing from today's list of new nominees. She didn't receive a bid for her seventh turn as police detective Jane Tennison in "Prime Suspect: The Final Act." While the show made the cut for drama serial, Mirren was left off the list of best actress nominees; this omission is even more striking considering that she won the award for each of the first three installments of "Prime Suspect" and was nominated for the next three.

But Mirren was tough on BAFTA voters when she threw a surprising snit backstage at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

"It's a disgrace!" Mirren fumed to reporters about the "Elizabeth I" snub. "Considering the great work put in by the cast and crew of a great production, I think that's shameful!"

Adding salt to the latest wound: one of the current BAFTA nominees is 25-years-younger Anne-Marie Duff who also played "The Virgin Queen."

Joining Duff in this highly competitive race are popular comedienne Victoria Wood for her dramatic turn as "Housewife 49," newcomer Ruth Wilson for "Jane Eyre," and two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton for "Longford." Count on "Longford," a Channel 4/HBO co-production about the efforts of a Lord (Oscar winner Jim Broadbent) to free a serial murderess, to figure as prominently as it did at the BAFTAs (9 nods) when Emmy nominations are announced on July 19.

The only other crossovers could be Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant of "Extras" (a BBC/HBO co-production) who face off for best comedy performance against Dawn French ("The Vicar of Dibley") and Liz Smith ("The Royle Family"). Otherwise, the contenders are from programs that were homegrown, thus lacking the American partnership required for Emmy consideration. However, the popular and critical appeal of nominated programs such as "Life on Mars" and "The Vicar of Dibley" have prompted producers to adapt them for the U.S. market with David E. Kelley working on the time-travel cop drama "Mars" while Emmy winner Kirstie Alley plays "The Minister of Divine."

For a full list of the nominations CLICK HERE

Photo: Only two months after accepting the BAFTA film award as best actress for "The Queen," Helen Mirren got the royal kiss-off from members of the TV branch who bristled at her criticism about being overlooked last year for "Elizabeth I." (Wire Image)