- Paris Jackson and her two brothers were kept out of public's eye when young
- They are now more visible
- Paris, 15, was hospitalized on Wednesday
- The high school student wants to be an actress
(CNN) -- Like her father had done countless times before, Paris Jackson stepped to the microphone.
What followed at the star-studded public memorial for Michael Jackson was a heartbreaking tribute from a young girl millions of fans barely knew.
"Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," the 11-year-old said through tears, as relatives patted and comforted her. "And I just want to say, that I love him so much."
The brief appearance on July 7, 2009, at Los Angeles' Staples Center, was a surprise, given Paris, like her two brothers, had been shielded by their superstar father for most of their lives.
Jackson family attorney: Paris is OK
Only two weeks before, according to testimony in the 2011 trial of Michael Jackson's physician, Paris saw her dying father lying on a bed with his eyes and mouth open.
She screamed out "Daddy!"
That trauma of losing a father was recalled Wednesday after Paris Jackson was rushed to a hospital after cutting one of her wrists, sources close to the family told CNN.
Paris called a suicide counseling hot line, which led to a counselor calling 911 to the Jackson home in Calabasas, California, the sources said. Other Jackson sources stopped short of calling the incident a suicide attempt, although one suggested it might be "a cry for help."
"Being a sensitive 15-year-old is difficult no matter who you are," attorney Perry Sanders said. "It is especially difficult when you lose the person closest to you."
While either behind a mask as a small child or in the public eye as a teen, the aspiring actress has endured many ups and downs in her relatively few years.
Since their father's death, Prince, Paris and Blanket's lives have become more public.
In TV interviews, Paris has spoken about a devoted father who sometimes let his kids go to Chuck E. Cheese. A father who mildly disciplined them if they did something bad.
Michael Jackson wanted his children to grow up without fanfare and overwhelming scrutiny. He talked to his children about his youth while starring in the Jackson 5.
"He would always be stuck in the studio singing while other kids were out playing," Paris told Oprah Winfrey in June 2012.
The daughter talked about why the siblings wore masks when away from home.
"I didn't get why I was wearing a mask. But I understand it now -- why my dad would want our face to be covered," she said. "(So) when we went out without him we would not be recognized. We would have a normal childhood."
Paris said she has dealt with issues familiar to some adolescents. People tried to bully her, Paris told Oprah. "A lot of people don't like me," she said.
The death in 2009 of superstar Michael Jackson, who died of cardiac arrest at the age of 50, sent shockwaves around the world.
The Jackson 5 perform on a TV show circa 1969. From left, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Jermaine Jackson.
Michael Jackson quickly became the stand out star of the Jackson 5. Here he performs onstage circa 1970.
Michael Jackson poses during a portrait session in Los Angeles in 1971.
Michael Jackson performs with The Jacksons in New Orleans on October 3, 1979.
Jackson achieved superstardom with his solo career in the 1980s. Here Jackson is shown on stage in Kansas in 1983.
Michael Jackson performs on stage circa 1990.
Jackson broke a world record during the Bad tour in 1988 when 504,000 people attending seven sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium in London.
Jackson perfoms in concert circa 1991 in New York City.
Known for his dance moves, Jackson is seen here jumping in the air while performing during the Dangerous tour in 1992.
Michael Jackson performs in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Jackson performs with his brothers.
Jackson performs during the Bad tour at Wembley Stadium in London.
Jackson performs during the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th: A Celebration" in 2002.
Michael Jackson earned the Legend Award during the MTV Video Music Awards in Tokyo in 2006.
Photos: Michael Jackson, King of Pop
And, she admitted, normalcy can be tough to attain when a security detail escorts you to the mall.
Paris wants to make her own mark as an actress. She signed to star in the upcoming film, "Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys," based on children's fantasy novels.
"You can be like a totally different person on camera and it's fun," Paris told Winfrey. "You can take on another character and it's awesome."
The siblings are part of a family that has seen its share of public disputes.
Their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, shares guardianship with TJ Jackson, the son of Tito Jackson, under an agreement forged last year after the Jackson matriarch was away for 10 days. Katherine Jackson was eventually found to be at an Arizona spa with several of her sons and daughters.
A missing person report triggered a media storm, with Paris tweeting for people to help find her grandmother or at least to get Jackson to call her grandchildren.
At the time, CNN obtained surveillance video that appeared to show Paris' superstar aunt, Janet Jackson, attempting to take the then 14-year-old's cell phone from her. Authorities reportedly broke up a scuffle at the Jackson family home after that event.
Katherine Jackson: Michael's mother, 82, was deposed for nine hours over three days by AEG Live lawyers. As the guardian of her son's three children, she is a plaintiff in the wrongful death lawsuit against the company that promoted Michael Jackson's comeback concerts.
Prince Jackson: Michael's oldest son is considered a key witness in the Jacksons' case against AEG Live, since he is expected to testify about what his father told him about the concert promoter in the last days of his life. Prince, who turned 16 in February, is becoming more independent -- he now has a driver's license and jobs.
Paris Jackson: Michael's daughter, who turned 15 on April 3, is on the list of witnesses and was questioned by AEG Live lawyers for several hours on March 21 about her father's death. Paris is an outspoken teen who often posts messages to her 1 million-plus Twitter followers.
Blanket Jackson: Although AEG Live asked the judge to order Blanket, 11, to sit for a deposition, and he is one of the four plaintiffs suing them, Michael's youngest son will not be a witness in the trial. His doctor submitted a note to the court saying it would be "medically detrimental" to the child.
Kevin Boyle: The Los Angeles personal injury lawyer is leading the Jackson team of at least six attorneys in the wrongful death suit against AEG Live. One of his notable cases was a large settlement with Boeing on behalf of two soldiers injured when their helicopter malfunctioned and crashed in Iraq.
Perry Sanders, Jr.: Katherine Jackson's personal lawyer is helping steer the Jackson matriarch through her relations with her son's estate, probate court and the wrongful death suit. He is also known for representing the family of Biggie Smalls in their suit against the city of Los Angeles over the rapper's death investigation.
Marvin Putnam: He's the lead lawyer for AEG Live, defending against the wrongful death suit. The primary focus of his legal practice is "media in defense of their First Amendment rights," according to his official biography.
Philip Anschutz: The billionaire owner of AEG, parent company of AEG Live, is on the Jacksons' witness list. He is the force behind the effort to build a football stadium in downtown Los Angeles to lure a National Football League team to the city. He recently pulled his company off the market after trying to sell it for $8 billion.
Tim Leiweke: He was recently fired as AEG's president as Philip Anschutz announced he was taking a more active role in the company. The Jackson lawyers say Leiweke's e-mail exchanges with executives under him concerning Michael Jackson's health are important evidence in their case.
Joe Jackson: Michael's father, 84, is on the witness list for the trial and may testify. The Jackson family patriarch, who lives in Las Vegas separately from his wife, has suffered several ministrokes in the last year, which some close to him say have affected him.
Randy Phillips: He's president of AEG Live, the concert promoter that contracted with Michael Jackson for his "This Is It" comeback shows set to start in London in July 2009. The Jackson lawsuit says Phillips supervised Dr. Conrad Murray's treatment of Jackson in the weeks before his death, making the company liable for damages. E-mails between Phillips and other executives showed they were worried about Jackson's missed rehearsals and sought Murray's help getting him ready.
Paul Gongaware: The AEG Live co-CEO worked closely with Michael Jackson as he prepared for his comeback concerts. He testified at Dr. Conrad Murray's criminal trial that he contacted the physician and negotiated his hiring at the request of Jackson. AEG lawyers say it was Jackson who chose, hired and supervised Murray. Gongaware knew Jackson well, having been tour manager for the singer in previous years.
Kenny Ortega: He was chosen by Michael Jackson and AEG Live to direct and choreograph the "This Is It" shows. Ortega, who choreographed for Jackson's "Dangerous" and "HIStory" tours, testified at Dr. Conrad Murray's criminal trial that "Jackson was frail" at a rehearsal days before his death.
Dr. Conrad Murray: He was Michael Jackson's personal physician in the two months before his death, giving him nightly infusions of the surgical anesthetic that the coroner ruled led to his death. Murray, who is appealing his involuntary manslaughter conviction, has sworn that he would invoke his Fifth Amendment protection from self-incrimination and refused to testify in the civil trial. There is a chance that Murray will be brought into court from jail to testify outside the presence of the jury to allow the judge to determine if he would be ordered to testify.
John Branca: He's one of two executors of Michael Jackson's estate. Branca was Jackson's lawyer until about seven years before his death. He said Jackson rehired him just weeks before he died.
Who's who in Jackson trial
Paris and Prince, 16, are listed as potential witnesses in an ongoing trial. Members of the Jackson family contend AEG Live is liable in Michael Jackson's 2009 fatal drug overdose. The siblings were questioned separately by AEG attorneys before the wrongful death trial began in April.
"A grilling of a child regarding the loss of her father is going to create a lot of pressure," Jackson trial lawyer Kevin Boyle said Wednesday. "Paris Jackson was asked intimate details about her father and her father's death; it was a very intense situation."
AEG Live lawyer Marvin Putnam denied his team was tough on Paris Jackson in her deposition.
Paris questioned about dad's death in lawsuit
In between the headlines, Paris continues in school, formulating her own dreams. She's a cheerleader for her high school's basketball team.
The teen was recently reunited with her mother, Debbie Rowe, who bowed out of her life when she was an infant. Paris has been spending time with Rowe at her horse farm.
Rowe is the biological mother of Prince and Paris. The couple divorced in 1999, with Rowe giving Jackson full custody while she got an $8.5 million settlement, according to court documents. Jackson later agreed to additional support.
Rowe said in a 2003 interview, later obtained by ABC News, that she became close to Jackson in 1996 when she consoled him after his brief marriage to Lisa Marie Presley ended.
Paris' first solo TV interview was in December 2011, with Ellen DeGeneres. She told the host that as a young girl she did not realize Michael Jackson was so famous.
DeGeneres asked Paris whether she would be compared to her father if she performed music.
"Well, I understand that I will be put on a certain level compared to him, and I might not meet everybody's standards," Paris replied.
"But, I mean, it's me," she said to applause.
CNN's Emily Smith contributed to this report.
