'Lincoln', 'Les Miserables' lead acting nominations

Daniel Day-Lewis is announced as a nominee for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for "Lincoln" as actors Taye Diggs (L) and Busy Philipps announce the nominations for the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in West Hollywood, California December 12, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Hollywood's actors cast their net wide on Wednesday, nominating performers from big awards contenders "Lincoln" and musical "Les Miserables" for Screen Actors Guild honors while also singling out the likes of Denzel Washington and Javier Bardem.

"Lincoln," "Les Miserables" and comedy "Silver Linings Playbook" led the nominations for the SAG awards with four apiece, including the top prize of best movie ensemble cast.

Joining them with two nominations each were the cast of Iranian hostage drama "Argo" and, in a surprise choice, British comedy "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel".

'Zero Dark Thirty' wins best film award

The awards from the Screen Actors Guild are among the most-watched honors during Hollywood film awards season leading up to the Academy Awards because actors make up the largest voting group when the Oscars come around in February.

SAG voters focus on performances rather than directing and writing, meaning that action and effects-heavy films like "The Hobbit" are usually sidelined.

Consequently, SAG largely shunned the expected Oscar contender "Zero Dark Thirty" about the US hunt for Osama bin Laden, giving it just one nomination for Jessica Chastain's performance as a CIA agent.