Jailed heiress Paris Hilton who criticised the media's blanket coverage of her courtroom drama, spoke to veteran news journalist Barbara Walters in a phone call from prison, it was revealed.

After releasing a statement in which she said she hoped "the public and the media will focus on more important things, like the men and women serving our country in Iraq" the socialite spoke to ABC news journalist Walters about her "horrible experience" .

One-to-one: Paris Hilton spoke to veteran broadcaster Barbara Walters who is best known for her interview with Monica Lewinsky which broke ratings records

According to the ABC news website the jailhouse call came about because Paris' mother, Kathy Hilton, phoned Walters and during the conversation, Paris called on another line.

When her mother told her she was talking to Walters, Paris said she'd like to speak to Walters herself.

Walters then agreed to accept a collect call from Paris in jail. All prisoners are required to call collect. Hilton told Walters her first few days in jail before she was released were "a horrible experience."

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

Asked how she is now she has been sent back, a seemingly contrite Paris said: "I used to act dumb. That act is no longer cute.

She added: "Now, I would like to make a difference...God has given me this new chance."

A household name in the US, Walters is known for "personality journalism" and her "scoop" interviews, such as the Monica Lewinsky interview that won the highest ratings of any journalist interview.

Paris is said to be refusing to eat or drink, as she fears prison staffers trying to make money will take a mobile phone picture of her on the toilet.

She is under observation in the medical ward at Los Angeles's Twin Towers jail, and her small cell is in full view of jail officials who are monitoring her around the clock.

A Hilton insider told the New York Daily News: "She was absolutely terrified that one of the guards or staffers would get her with the cell-phone cam and it would wind up on the Internet."

"She didn't eat or drink a single thing for three days because she didn't want to use the toilet. She was in real danger."

After visiting her sister, Nicky said the heiress is 'being strong'

The heiress was comforted by her sister Nicky Hilton and her sometime boyfriend Stavros Niarchos, who visited the Twin Towers detention centre over the weekend.

"She's being strong," Nicky said as she walked out of the jail.

Paris' sister Nicky Hilton and her sometime boyfriend Stavros Niachros tried to boost the heiress' spirits

She is allowed visitors only two days a week, yet her parents, Kathy and Rick, were yesterday seen going to church instead - perhaps to pray for their wayward daughter.

Mrs Hilton said they would not visit as Nicky was there and there was only a 30-minute slot.

Fellow visitors complained that Nicky and Stavros received special treatment by guards and were allowed to jump the two hour long queue

Hilton announced that she had told her lawyers not to appeal against her return to prison and instead vowed to serve her time although it was "by far the hardest thing I have ever done".

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Hilton's billionaire grandfather donated money last year to the sheriff who released the 26-year-old heiress from jail.

William Barron Hilton, 78, co-chairman of the Hilton Hotel chain, made a contribution of around £500 to Sheriff Lee Baca’s re-election campaign - the maximum allowed by law - according to financial records.

She makes me sick, its must be nice to be able to talk to Barbara Walters from jail. Could there be a new book coming out or a new show, "The Real Paris Hilton." Give me a break.

Well Patricia don't we all have Barbara Walters on speed dial so we can call her COLLECT in just such a situation.
What a let down for Barbara Walters ... Presidents, World Leaders ... Paris Hilton LOL
How pathetic.

Hey let's not forget the Paris Hilton's MOM also got to gab with Babs. Cripe.
And what a shocker - jail feels like a cage. Duh!!!

Kathy

Oh the DRAMA !