No Country also took home the directing prize for Joel and Ethan Coen, while Spanish actor Javier Bardem was honoured for his supporting role as the calculating serial killer.

The Critics Choice Awards have an enviable track record as an Oscar predictor. In the past 12 years, half of the acting and best picture winners have gone on to claim Oscar glory, along with 75 per cent of the directing winners. Britain’s Daniel Day-Lewis was named best actor for his role as a tough oilman in There Will Be Blood and compatriot Julie Christie won best actress for playing an Alzheimer’s victim in Away With Her.

Winners were unveiled during a ceremony at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The event, televised on cable channel VH1, is organised by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, a group of more than 200 television, radio and online critics in the US and Canada.

The pregnant teen comedy Juno, which had six nominations, had to settle for best writer (Diablo Cody) and best comedy.

George Clooney, a nominee for his starring turn in Michael Clayton, presented the inaugural Joel Siegel Award to Don Cheadle for his humanitarian work.

Before introducing his friend, Clooney noted the impact of the Hollywood writers’ strike on the city.

“This is a one-industry town and when a strike happens it's not just writers or actors, it’s restaurants and hotels and agencies,” he said. “And our hope is that all of the players involved will lock themselves in a room and not come out until they finish. We want this to be done. That’s the most important thing. It matters to all of us.”