Is Paris learning? Wait And See

February 10, 2008

In the looks department, there's no doubt that Paris Hilton, star of the new film "The Hottie and the Nottie," is a hottie. But when it comes to being low-maintenance, she's a nottie.

"Could someone get me a lemonade?" says the sweet, little-girl voice. "Oh, could someone draw the blinds?" "Oh, could someone please turn on the air-conditioner? It's so hot in here."

Her wish in a Beverly Hills hotel room is a publicist's command.

"I'm so sorry," Hilton tells the reporter who's hanging on the line. "As I was saying, I really am misunderstood. There are a lot of misconceptions, but people like to be mean."

And now she's setting the record straight.

"I'm really a normal girl," Hilton declares. "I know you see me out at times because I have to be visible. But there is nothing better for me than staying home. Hang out. I have my dogs. And I make a mean lasagna for friends."

But for some reason, news of her normalness is just not getting out. "A lot of people just know me from 'The Simple Life,' " she frets. "I did that show for five seasons. I know it's a reality show, but I was really playing this character, so it was acting. But people think that's the way I am in real life and it's just not true."

She says the attention she gets can be annoying. "People want to read the bad. I know who I am, so I don't pay attention."

'Dude, don't let it rub off'
Instead, just now, she's focused on "The Hottie and the Nottie," about a young geek named Nate (Joel David Moore) who's in love with the town princess Cristabel (Hilton), but his family moves away from town when he's a little boy. Years later, he returns to Los Angeles to find her. He meets up with the hottie and her less-hot friend (Christine Lakin).

The film was written with Hilton in mind. "I heard, 'You're the perfect one to play the Hottie,' " she says. "And then I read the script and thought it was really funny. It also has a beautiful message."

Would Hilton ever date a Nottie? "Yeah, I have before," she admits. "But I can't say who because I don't want to make anyone feel bad. I will say it was a couple of years ago."

Yes, she's single and looking. "I just want to find a guy who can really make me laugh. I also want him to be sweet and honest," she implores. "I just want someone who is a nice person and that's hard to find in this town.

"I don't like guys who are really full of themselves or dishonest. I hate when someone takes me out and he's rude to the waiter. In fact, I get really angry about it. I also don't like guys who brag about who they are. Give me a break."

Of course, she says, it's hard to find someone when you're such a famous hottie. "A lot of guys will come up to me and try to be cool and say, 'Hi. What's your name?' and I'll be like 'Deborah.' And they'll go, 'Oh, really?' and they'll just keep talking to me pretending that they don't know who I am. I'm like 'Dude, don't let it rub off.' "

And yes, she's had stalkers. "This guy slept outside my house for two weeks," she marvels. "He stole my cat and then pretended to give it back."

'I've learned a lot'
In her real life, so to speak, Hilton wants to prove she can have a different type of life after her stint in jail last year for driving with a suspended license.

Was jail a wake-up call? "It wasn't a wake-up call. It was a tough time," she says. "I definitely did change my life. But I'm also 26 years old now. I'm an adult. I've been through a lot and I've learned a lot."

To illustrate the point, she's begun working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and has started the Paris Hilton Foundation for children. "I just want to help kids because I love kids," she says. "I want to help sick kids, send presents to needy kids at Christmas. I'll do anything for kids."

Even David Letterman was nice to her last week, not dwelling on her time in the slammer, as he did the last time she was on his show. "He gave me flowers," Hilton says. "It was really sweet. He made up for it."

Her 10-year plan involves marriage and kids. "I'm going to continue with my career," she says. "Do some real estate work. Get married. Have kids. I'm taking life seriously."