Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Paris Hilton interview and photos

By John P. Meyer

Paris Hilton arrived in Dallas today (Jan. 22) to attend the red carpet premiere of her new starring vehicle, The Hottie and the Nottie, at the Regent Highland Park Village Theater. Before the evening's festivities she met with a group of journalists in a media suite at the W Hotel.

Participating along with yours truly were Daniel Kusner (of PegNews content partner Dallas Voice); Todd Jorgenson (of the Denton Record-Chronicle); Alice Reese (of the Greenville Herald-Banner); and Paul Salfen (for Quick).

Ms. Hilton was scheduled to join us at 1:05 but arrived fashionably late, giving us plenty of time to discuss the prospects for world peace and scarf down free sandwiches while sipping designer water from tube-shaped plastic containers with caps like you find on spray paint cans. (In fact, they may be the same ones.) It eventually got so bad that we were telling stories about the old days when hotel rooms were actually spacious.

Paris eventually did arrive, accompanied by a small entourage of assistants and media wranglers whose identities were never fully revealed. Several amongst the anonymous attendees began filming the proceedings on their little handy cams as we conducted the interview.

The PR folks had warned us before her arrival that we were not to ask Paris any personal questions, but to limit the scope of our queries to her movie (which we had screened previously), her career and her business ventures. (Did Daniel cross the line when he asked whether she thought she was 100% straight? You be the judge.)

It turns out Ms. Hilton is a well-spoken young woman with a great deal of poise. I'm not suggesting she should turn to the study of unified field theory, but she did prove to be a charming interviewee who was never at a loss for words.

Her new movie opens locally on Feb. 8, when you can read a review of it on these very pages.

Highlights of our conversation, included in podcast form for your convenience:

Paris watched some old Marilyn Monroe movies to get ready for her role in the film (she plays Cristabelle Abbott - "the hottie").

Her next film is a horror musical, in which she sings.

Madonna, Prince, Britney and Michael Jackson are her musical favorites.

She's marketing a line of hair extensions called "dream catchers" through Denton-based Sally Beauty Supply.

Paris is an Aquarius - which she says means she's "outgoing & creative."

She wants to have kids "in the next couple of years."

She considers her movies and other public appearances to be a means of promoting her brands (fashion, fragrances, hair products, etc.).

She'll be performing in an episode of "The L Word" once the writer's strike is over.

Her ex-boyfriend once gave her a Porsche for a Valentine's present.

While in Dallas, she'd like to buy a cool cowboy hat, eat barbecue and go out with some "southern boys." (You'll note she said nothing about "nice" southern boys.)

Paris Hilton quotes:

"Is the heat on in here?"

"I think Angelina Jolie is the hottest girl in the world."

"I'm basically a drag queen."

Related stories

• Thursday Morning Cupcheck - Outlawing Fighting in the NHL (Jan. 29, 2009)
• New on DVD: Bella, The Hottie…, I’m Not There - and more! (May 6, 2008)
• Movie review: The Hottie and the Nottie (Feb. 8, 2008)

See more stories in:

• Arts > Movies / Film
• Celebrities!

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