An Iranian actress has been warned not to return to Iran after she bared her breast in a French video advert and posted a photo of it online.

Golshifteh Farahani, an Iranian based in Paris, posted a semi-nude picture of herself on her Facebook page. The photo was taken from the making of a promotional video for the Cesar Awards (the French equivalent of the Oscars), in which the actress reveals one of her breasts in a brief shot.

The video features 31 French actors and actresses partially disrobing. The project, led by director Jean-Baptiste Mondino, aims to promote bodily and artistic freedom.

The 29-year-old Farahani, who appeared in the 2008 movie Body of Lies with Leonardo DiCaprio, was the only actress featured who showed her breast.

The semi-nude photo is reported to have attracted wide viewership in Iran and the Middle East. It was both lauded and attacked in the comments section.

Farahani said Iranian authorities have warned her not to return home.

The Iranian state imposes conservative social restrictions which include a compulsory veil for Iranian women.

In November young Egyptian activist Aliaa El-Mahdi rose to prominence after posing in naked photographs on her blog, in what she said was an expression of freedom in a violent, sexist society.

El-Mahdi, who lives in her native country, unlike Farahani, was severely criticised and received death threats for her blog post.