Behind The Scenes: The Stars Of British Film

Anna Karenina is a British interpretation of a Russian classic starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law.

But the real stars of this film have emerged as the off screen talent who created the magical world of Imperial Russia.

The adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel has been nominated for four Oscars in cinematography, original score, costume and production design.

Katie Spencer and Sarah Greenwood share the nomination for their work on the 100 intricate sets involved in the production at London’s Ham House.

Production designer Katie Spencer said she is "so excited to be nominated", and went on to describe why she thinks that behind the scenes departments were so successful:

"In a film, you need brilliant actors, brilliant directors and a brilliant story to get it noticed to begin with.

"But when people work well as a team - in front of the camera and behind the scenes, that's when a film comes together. We all need each other."

Blockbusters are often overlooked at the Oscars but Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has racked up an impressive three nominations in the technical categories.

Peter Swords King, who has been nominated for best make-up, said: "Personally it's an honour to be nominated.

"It's very good for my whole team, it's only with them behind me that I've got into the position of being nominated.

"We don't do the jobs for the accolades or anything like that, but it's a recognition of your work and shows that you have got to have been doing something right along the line."

There has been a great deal of British success in the technical categories of movie making which Peter Swords King attributes to English custom.

"It may be an English trait but we are never satisfied. There's always something we think we can do better and with that we question and change things."

Les Miserables has a total of eight Oscar nominations, and this includes nods for the Brits who were involved in costume, make-up and production design.

Skyfall may have missed out in the major categories but Roger Deakins, the cinematographer gets his 10th nomination from the Academy.