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LONDON - The mayor of a small Welsh coastal town wants to overturn its ban on Monty Python's "Life of Brian."

After all, she starred in it.

"Life of Brian" follows the rise and fall of the titular hero, a first century Jew mistaken for the messiah and hounded by a relentless crowd of gullible believers.

Its closing scene shows a hapless Brian hanging amid a crowd of crucified convicts who try to cheer him up by belting out a chirpy rendition of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."

The film's spoof of Hollywood biblical epics - and its satirical take on the rise of organized religion - drew allegations of blasphemy, and the film was banned from parts of Britain after its 1979 release.

Sue Jones-Davies, who played Judith, Brian's love interest, now serves as Aberystwyth's mayor. She said she was astounded when she first found out about the ban earlier this week and wants it revoked.

"Given what's on TV now, I think it's amazing a ban in Aberystwyth still exists," she was quoted as saying by the BBC. "I think it should be lifted. I would like to think that any religion would have the generosity to see the film for what it is, which is a comedy."

The film, which also starred John Cleese, Graham Chapman, and Terry Gilliam, regularly tops of the list of funniest British films.

The BBC said it would be up to the local council to decide whether to lift the ban.