NEW YORK - Several award-winning actors proclaimed their support for the writers strike after the Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday, saying they would trade in their prizes for a fair contract.

"I think it's a worthy sacrifice," said Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian John Leguizamo. "This is an opportunity for writers to get the respect they deserve."

Leguizamo was joined by actors Blythe Danner, Celeste Holm and Tony Gilroy, who was nominated Tuesday for best director and screenplay for "Michael Clayton."

Danner won two Emmys for her work on the short-lived HBO series "Huff"; Holm won an Oscar for the 1947 classic "Gentleman's Agreement."

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since Nov. 5, with a key issue being compensation for their work in digital media.

"We wanted to bring together all the people we knew who have received Oscars, Tonys and Emmys to say we're very proud of our awards," Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East, said at a news conference.

"But we would trade them all in for a fair and respectful deal for the writers."

Oscar organizers insist the awards show will go on, even if they have to do it without the writers.

The strike, now in its 12th week, could force some of Hollywood's biggest names to choose between attending the glamorous awards ceremony or crossing their colleagues' picket lines.

"The Oscars are great," said Tom Fontana, creator of the hit HBO series "Oz."

But "the Oscars are not as important as working families surviving in a very tough economy."

The Oscars are scheduled to be broadcast live on ABC on Feb. 24. Comedian Jon Stewart, the host of "The Daily Show," is scheduled to host the awards ceremony for the second time. Stewart recently went back on the air without his writers.