Paris Hilton says she is 'not a dumb blonde' but is 'good at pretending to be one'

Watch: Paris Hilton says she's misunderstood

Paris Hilton has insisted she is "not a dumb blonde" but said she is very good at pretending to be one.

The hotel heiress, known for The Simple Life and other reality shows, opened up about being more herself these days during an interview on This Morning.

She told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary: "For a long time people have misunderstood and underestimated me but I can understand, playing that character. Of course they were going to assume otherwise.

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"But I'm not a dumb blonde, I'm just very good at pretending to be one."

She went on: "After the Simple Life I got stuck [as that character] and everyone assumed that’s who I really was in real life and I’m a naturally shy person so it was also kind of a mask for me.”

When Hammond mentioned how Hilton sounds different now, the star said: “This is my real voice.

"That was just a character I was playing.”

The US star - who in recent months has talked about facing emotional and physical abuse as a teen - welcomed son Phoenix with her husband Carter Reum earlier this year.

She said her baby was her "world".

"He is just such a little angel and I’m so obsessed with him and I can’t wait to get home to him," she said.

Hilton, 42, also revealed that while she used to love going out, her life is pretty different now.

"I loved to go out… but now that I'm grown up I don’t really enjoy it as much anymore," she said.

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"My ideal night now?

"I love to cook lasagne for my husband and just lay in bed with my baby and cuddle.”

Watch: Paris Hilton: ‘People don't know what fun is today!’