FACTBOX: Facts about Best Actress Oscar nominees

Feb 24 - (Reuters) - Following are some facts about the nominees for the best actress Oscar at the 80th annual Academy Awards, which will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday.

* CATE BLANCHETT - "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"

-- Age: 38 (born May 14, 1969, in Australia)

-- Notable Films: "An Ideal Husband" (1999), "The Shipping News" (2001), "Veronica Guerin" (2003), "Notes on a Scandal"

(2006).

-- Previous awards & nominations: Including her nomination this year for best supporting actress in "I'm Not There," this is her fifth Academy Award nomination. She was previously nominated as best actress for "Elizabeth" (1998). She won best supporting actress for her role in "The Aviator" (2004) and was nominated again in that same category for "Notes on a Scandal"

(2006).

* JULIE CHRISTIE - "Away From Her"

-- Age: 66 (born April 14, 1941, in India)

-- Notable Films: "Billy Liar" (1963), "Doctor Zhivago" (1965), "Don't Look Now" (1973), "Heat and Dust" (1983).

-- Previous Awards & Nominations: This nomination makes is Christie's fourth. She was nominated twice as best actress for "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971) and "Afterglow" (1997). She won best actress for "Darling" (1965).

* MARION COTILLARD - "La Vie en Rose"

-- Age: 32 (born Sept 30, 1975 in France)

-- Notable Films: "Taxi" (1998) "Un Long Dimanche de Fiancailles" (A Very Long Engagement) (2004), "A Good Year"

(2006)

-- Previous Awards & Nominations: This is Cotillard's first Academy Award nomination.