LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- "Birdman", a black comedy released in October in the United States, led the 21st annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards with four nominations in the movie section, while "Modern Family" topped the TV section with the same number of nominations.

Generally considered a strong indication of the Oscar Awards, the SAG Awards are nominated and chosen exclusively by actors, with separate panels of 2,200 members choosing nominees for film and television respectively.

Three movies, including "Boyhood", "The Imitation Game" and "The Theory of Everything", won three nominations and tied for the second place after the Oscar-promising "Birdman".

For the performers, British actor Benedict Cumberbatch is nominated for two individual awards in his BBC miniseries "Sherlock: His Last Vow" and his latest theater hit "The Imitation Game".

The award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role incited a tough contest between Jennifer Aniston, Felicity Jones, Julianne Moore, Rosamund Pike and Reese Witherspoon.

Three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep receives her nomination as a supporting role in the Disney's film "Into the Woods".

Results of the SAG Awards will be announced at the Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, on Jan. 25, 2015.