Los Angeles: Daniel Day-Lewis and British veteran Julie Christie underscored their status as Oscars front-runners after winning the top prizes at the 14th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

British-born star Day-Lewis was crowned best actor yesterday for his performance as a tyrannical oil prospector in "There Will Be Blood", while Christie was selected as the best actress for playing an Alzheimer's sufferer in "Away From Her."

Day-Lewis and Christie's wins shorten the odds on them claiming the equivalent acting awards at the Oscars, which take place on February 25. The Screen Actors Guild Awards have been a reliable indicator of likely Oscars success.

For the past three years, the best actor and actress winners have gone on to win Academy Awards. Day-Lewis dedicated his award to Heath Ledger, who died aged 28 in New York last week, saying the Australian actor was someone whose performances inspired him to keep working. "There are many actors in this room tonight including my fellow nominees who have given me that sense of regeneration. Heath Ledger gave it to me," he said, to loud applause.

Ledger's performance in the 2005 gay cowboy drama "Brokeback Mountain" had been "unique," Day-Lewis said. "That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I've ever seen and I would like to dedicate this to him," he added. Christie, 66,meanwhile paid tribute to the cast and crew of her drama about a woman slowly descending into dementia and joked: "If I have forgotten anybody it is just that I am still in character."