Barbra Walters says Paris Hilton changed

Los Angeles -- She's an heiress but when locked in a California jail, Paris Hilton needed to call collect to get her side of her story out on national TV Monday.

"I used to act dumb," the 26-year-old socialite told "The View" host Barbara Walters over the phone. "That act is no longer cute. Now, I would like to make a difference. ... God has given me this new chance."

Hilton, serving time as a result of driving infractions, said her first three days in jail were terrible and made it hard for her to return.

"I was not eating or sleeping," she said. "I was severely depressed and felt as if I was in a cage. ... It was a horrible experience."

The phone interview came about after Kathy Hilton, Paris' mother, phoned the ABC news personality and Paris rang in on another line. When told her mother was talking to Walters, Paris said she wanted to speak to Walters herself.

Nicky Hilton said her sister was "being strong" after her visit Sunday, ABC News reported. That day, Hilton decided she would not appeal her sentence and she also urged the media to focus on more important world matters.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.