The nominations were announced by Edie Falco of "The Sopranos," last year's winner in the best dramatic actress category, and by Michael Badalucco of "The Practice," who was best supporting dramatic actor last year.
She played a wide variety of roles but was best in dramatic parts as a strong-willed, independent woman of complex character.
She was best remembered, however, for her heartrending dramatic performance in the film Sayonara (1957), for which she won an Academy Award as best supporting actress for her portrayal of the wife of an American airman, played by fellow Oscar winner Red Buttons.
It was best supporting actress in a drama series, not best dramatic actress.
It was also a good night for the Reading-born Kate Winslet, who won the two categories for which she was nominated: best dramatic actress for Revolutionary Road and best supporting actress for The Reader.
Natalie Portman was named best dramatic actress for her turn as a tortured ballerina in Black Swan, while Paul Giamatti won the best comedy/musical actor for Barney's Version.
"The West Wing," which also dominated the recent Emmy Awards, was chosen best dramatic series, and its star, Martin Sheen, won for best actor for playing the president.
Alexander Payne's tart family saga triumphed in the rival best film (drama) category, while George Clooney was named best dramatic actor for his performance as a Hawaiian lawyer attempting to reconnect with his daughters.
But the awards also boost the Oscar hopes of Britain's Colin Firth, who was named best dramatic actor for his role as stuttering George VI in The King's Speech.
— What can be the silliness of the Golden Globes matched up with the seriousness of the critics on Sunday night as "The Social Network" took the prize for best drama, Colin Firth was named best dramatic actor for "The King's Speech" and Natalie Portman danced away with the award for best actress in a drama at the entertainment industry's second-favorite awards show.
