Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jude Law up for Tonys

The growing phenomenon of theatre producers using Hollywood stars to bring bigger crowds to Broadway was reflected in the nominations for the 64th Tony Awards, announced yesterday.

The list is dominated by movie stars who have graced Broadway over the past year, among them British actors Catherine Zeta-Jones, nominated for best leading actress in a musical (Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music) and Jude Law, nominated for best actor for Hamlet, a Donmar West End production which transferred from London to New York in October.

Of course, Hollywood comes to Broadway works both ways. It brings in ticket-buyers who might not otherwise try the theatre, and it gives actors whose last hit film might be fading in the memory some much-needed kudos.

Zeta-Jones, whose last big movie hit, Chicago, was in 2002, said: "What a thrill to be nominated! I couldn't imagine a better way to make my Broadway debut."

Jude Law, whose remake of Alfie was not the movie highlight of 2004, said: "What a great honour. Bringing our production of Hamlet to New York will always be one of the highlights of my career."

Law turned out at the weekend's glitzy Costume Institute Gala in New York with his on-again girlfriend Sienna Miller. Unfortunately for Ms Miller, her performance in the Patrick Marber play After Miss Julie failed to impress. But three other English actors received Tony nominations - Alfred Molina and Eddie Redmayne for their performances in Red, and Douglas Hodge for La Cage Aux Folles.

Other Hollywood stars nominated include Scarlett Johansson for best supporting actress for her stage debut in A View From The Bridge and Denzel Washington for best actor for his role in one of Broadway's biggest recent hits, Fences.

The nominations were unveiled in New York by vetaran movie actor Jeff Daniels and one of American TV's biggest stars of the moment, Glee actress Lea Michele. The awards ceremony will be held on June 13. ·