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Iran has banned a popular actress from leaving the country after she starred in a Hollywood movie without permission from Iranian authorities, the official IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

The ban was imposed after Golshifteh Farahani, 25, took part in Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies" with Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. Farahani is the first Iranian-based female actor to star in a Hollywood movie.

"She found out about the ban on Tuesday when she wanted to travel to Hollywood to examine a new offer," an unnamed source told the agency.

IRNA said Iranian movie stars must obtain permission from the Culture Ministry before appearing in foreign movies.

"Body of lies," expected to be released in October, is the story of an agent who travels to Jordan to track down an al Qaeda leader.

Farahani won the 2006 Golden Seashell at the San Sebastian International Film Festival for her role in Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi's movie "Half Moon."

She also starred in "Santuri," an Iranian film whose release was delayed for several months while censors debated whether it should be banned, a common fate of many Iranian movies and of most Western films deemed too provocative for the Iranian public.

International film festivals have become an important outlet for Iranian film makers whose work is often censored at home.