By Bonnie Siegler

Yes, Paris Hilton is known for her partying ways, revolving door of boyfriends and as a Beverly Hills socialite. But she is also a savvy businesswoman, accomplished singer and working actress. In other words, Paris Hilton has become a brand known the world over.
The Paris Hilton sportswear line recently made its debut to fashion buyers and will soon be carried in high end department stores and fashion boutiques across the country. She has five fragrances, including a men’s scent - “Heir”- , of course. On the television side, Paris has graced the small screen on the reality series, “The Simple Life” and guest appearances on “The George Lopez Show, “Las Vegas”, and “Veronica Mars”. Bigger than life Paris appeared alongside Chad Michael Murray in “The House of Wax”, and smaller roles in “Zoolander”, “Raising Helen” and “The Cat In The Hat.”
Today, Paris is being Paris in a hot pink silk mini and matching hot pink stockings with sky-high heels. Her black blazer is as long as her hemline, revealing lean legs. She breezes into The Four Seasons to promote her newest movie, “The Hottie and the Nottie”, in which she stars as Cristabel Abbott, and also executive produced. A comedy about opening your heart and closing your eyes, it centers on a perfect “10” woman and her less attractive best friend, June. And of course, there’s a guy in the middle of this friendship. Sound like another reality entertainment option? And guess which one Paris plays – Hottie or Nottie?

You look so happy in this movie. Is that how you felt the whole way through this project?
Actually is was so much fun on the set. We all like immediately bonded. We became really close friends and would hang out even when we weren’t working. So I was really happy with everything. These guys were awesome.

Would you ever date an ugly guy?
Yeah, I have before. I’m not going to say who because then I’d feel bad. It was a couple of years ago.

And we haven’t seen the photograph?
You probably have.

Would you consider plastic surgery to enhance your looks at all?
I don’t know. I’m really scared even of like getting shots. I don’t want to hink about it.

Was this movie your idea – did you conceive the storyline?
Actually the writer came with it to me and said we wrote this with you in mind and there’s no one else who can play the Hottie. Will you please play it? I read it and fell in love with it. I think it’s a really fun film, but it also has a really beautiful message. I just think it was a cute, fun love story about two best friends.

Prior to this role, what kind of scripts were you offered?
A variety of different scripts, different horror films, different comedies, but out of all the ones I read, this was the one I liked the most.

How do you think the film industry sees you? Do they take you seriously?
You know, I think a lot of people see me from “The Simple Life”, I’ve been doing that show for five seasons. It’s a reality show where I’m playing a character so I’m basically acting in that. Maybe people think that’s really how I am, but it’s not. And I’ve been working with Ivana Chubbuck, who’s an incredible acting coach and I’ve worked really hard for this…now I’m taking it seriously.

So does this mean you might want to expand into more dramatic roles and maybe to get people to take you seriously as far as being an actress?
Yeah, definitely. My next role is one I just completed with Darren Lynn Bousman who directed all the “Saw” films. It’s with Paul Sorvino who plays my father, and Sarah Brightman who plays my nemesis. It’s a musical horror film and I’m never blonde in the movie at all. I play Amber Sweet who’s the daughter of the guy who owns the company and she’s a little demented and crazy – obsessed with plastic surgery and always changing the way she looks because she wants to get her father’s approval. I always have different hair, different eyes…you could never tell it’s me in every scene. And that was fun. It was great to get a role like that and be given a chance. It’s called Repo! The Genetic Oper And I sing 12 songs in it.

What do you think you’re going to have to do to convince people to take you seriously as an actress?
Just take on different roles and prove myself that way. Hottie was just a fun movie to do and it’s a really sweet, romantic comedy. My next movie is completely different and then I’m going to do a drama after Repo! I think just doing role and doing a good job on each one might convince people.

Is there a character in a film that came out recently that you thought you might have liked to play that nobody thought of you for?
I loved the movie “Juno”. I thought that was pretty cute.

What do you enjoy most about acting?
I love being on set. I love just meeting new people and experiencing it. I love being in front of the camera, just being another character. It’s fun to escape from my real life.

You’re also the producer in your current movie, though. What’s that job for you?
It’s a lot of work because you’re basically now working on and off camera, but it was just such a fun project that I enjoyed every minute of it.

Usually executive producers put up money for a film. Did you invest in this film?
No.

What do you personally look for in a man?
Just someone who can make me laugh, someone who’s sweet, who’s fun to be around and honest.

Is there anyone in Hollywood that you would call a “Nottie” as opposed to a “Hottie”?
Oh yeah. There’s a lot of them.

What is it that turns you off about a man?
Just if someone’s at dinner and they’re kind of rude to a waiter, someone like that I really get angry about. Or people who lie or brag, just guys who have a bad attitude.

Has it happened in your real life, like in the movie, that an old school mate comes to you?
Oh yeah. There’s a lot of them on My Space and Facebook who will write me like from back in kindergarten. And I do remember them all.

There’s a joke in this movie about the stalker guy. Have you had experiences with stalkers in your real life?
Yeah, I’ve had some major stalkers. I was kind of thinking of one special person when we were doing the movie. He like showed up to my house and slept outside for two weeks. He stole our cat and then pretended to give it back. He just did the weirdest things.

What’s the greatest pick-up line you’ve heard?
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 really am.

Any special plans for Valentine’s Day?
I’m single. I’ll be in Las Vegas, but I have to say that being single at Valentine’s Day is very hard. I’m having my birthday at LAX in Vegas on the 15th…my birthday is the 17th. So I’ll be there all that week for Magic, for my clothing and shoe lines.

How many businesses do you have right now?
I do clothing, perfume, books, shoes, purses, hair extensions, watches. It’s a whole enterprise.

Do you lend your name or are you involved in every aspect of it?
I develop everything. I design. I wouldn’t put my name on anything that I didn’t believe in.

So you wear your own perfume?
Yes. I’m wearing Can Can today. I have five fragrances but I’m wearing Can Can today. I gave the whole cast and crew all of my fragrances. Christine’s boyfriend wears Heir. He loves it. I wear Heir too sometimes.

It’s hard to imagine, but have you ever felt unattractive?
I think every girl does sometimes. We’re all human. When something bad happens, you feel sad, like when you get your heart broken.

You have 17 dogs now. Do they each have their own beds?
Well I built a little thing called a doggie mansion which is in my backyard. It’s a replica of my house. It has a chandelier and the same stairwell and furniture. They all live there.

What would you like to tell people who just don’t get you or understand what you’re about?
You know, that I’m just a sweet person with a big heart. I’m having the time of my life and I’m very happy. I just want to make people smile and bring some color into the world.