Unorthodox star Shira Haas and Borat’s Sacha Baron Cohen are among the notable Jewish names who will vie for trophies at this year’s Golden Globes.

Ms Haas, who is believed to be the first Israeli actor nominated for the American awards, was lauded for her performance as Esther “Esty” Shapiro in the Netflix series, which also received a nod for Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.

She told Deadline: “It’s more than I expected. It’s the greatest. We were texting like crazy, and phone calls one after the other with the crew. There’s a lot of love even though it’s been a while since we filmed it.”

Cult Canadian comedy Schitt’s Creek, which broke the single-season record for Emmy wins in 2020, will hope for equally smashing success during the virtual 2021 Globes on Sunday, February 28.

The Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) sitcom, created by father-son duo Dan and Eugene Levy, skyrocketed from relative obscurity to viral sensation following its 2017 debut on Netflix. Its sixth and final season aired last year.

Schitt’s Creek, about a formerly wealthy interfaith family forced to move to a small town, is up in five categories, including Musical or Comedy TV Series. Its four stars—Dan and Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy—are all up in the acting categories.

British funnyman Mr Baron Cohen tied the record for most nods by a single performer in one year for his turns in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and for his supporting role in the legal drama The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Mr Baron Cohen’s surprise Borat revival, released in the lead-up to the US Presidential election, is up for Musical or Comedy Motion Picture, and the London native took the news as another opportunity to joke about the Trump administration, tweeting: “Wawaweewah! I’m shocked and humbled to be nominated for 3 Golden Globes.

“We’re so honoured—and just in case we don’t win any, I’ve already hired Rudy Guliani to contest the results.”

The Trial of The Chicago 7, also up for Drama Motion Picture, is based on the true story of seven defendants—some of them Jewish—charged for conspiracy by the United States government for their involvement in the counterculture movement.

Aaron Sorkin, the Jewish creator of The West Wing, was also nominated in the writing and directing categories.

Mank, a biopic of Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, leads the dramatic film nominations with six, and will be up against Sophia Loren’s The Life Ahead. The Italian film was adapted from the novel The Life Before Us, about an ageing Holocaust survivor forming an unlikely friendship.

Palm Springs and its star Andy Samberg are Musical and Comedy contenders, while Kate Hudson—daughter of Goldie Hawn—earned a nod for her turn in Music.

Elsewhere, Jewish stars were among those honoured with NAACP Image Awards nominations. Jurnee Smollett, whose father is Jewish, was recognised for her work in Lovecraft Country, and Daveed Diggs, who made a splash with his tune “Puppy for Hannukkah” in 2020, was nominated for his work in the film adaptation of hit musical Hamilton.

Big Mouth, an animated series about a Black Jewish preteen, and rapper Drake, were among the other nominees.