Kate on the trophy trail

Big screen, small screen, the raves just keep on coming for Kate Winslet. Already the owner of a Best Actress Oscar for The Reader, following a clutch of nominations over the past 15 years, Winslet is clear favourite for this year's Emmy Award for her title role as Mildred Pierce.

The period miniseries has snared no fewer than 21 nominations in the race for the prestigious Emmys - the TV Oscars - two more than Mad Men which, in turn, is just ahead of Boardwalk Empire and Modern Family. Our homegrown Downton Abbey chips in with 11.

The omens are good for Winslet, 36 (pictured below). Back in 1946, the same role earned Joan Crawford (pictured bottom with her co-star Zachary Scott) her sole Oscar for the movie version of the tear-jerking melodrama.