Anna Nicole Smith's ex reveals what he tells daughter Dannielynn about her mum.

It’s been almost nine years since Anna Nicole Smith passed away – and now, her ex has spoken about his relationship with their young daughter Dannielynn.

Smith’s former partner Larry Birkhead, 42, recently told Entertainment Tonight that he tried to be honest with Dannielynn about her mother, and the circumstances surrounding her death in 2007.

The photographer said he didn't try to sugar coat the truth with Dannielynn, who is now nine.

He said that now his daughter was old enough to Google her mother, it was important that he told her the truth.

"We go back all the time and we go to [Anna Nicole's] grave. We visit and I tell Dannielynn stories about her mum. I don't sugar coat it. I say there are some things that your mum did and you know I try to make her learn from it. There is YouTube these days and that stuff is out there. My daughter likes to Google already and I'm trying to keep her from it. She'll see things, when she grows up, that not necessarily are true. Was [Anna Nicole] wild? Yeah, sure. But [she was] a great lady and a great mum."

Model Anna Nicole Smith famously married millionaire J Howard Marshall when he was 89 - and she was 26. After he died just a year later, Smith became a Playmate and celebrity. She also struggled with drug addiction.

Dannielynn was born in September 2006, and just days later, Smith's 20-year-old son Daniel died of an accidental drug overdose.

Five months after Daniel's death, Smith also died of a drug overdose, sparking a custody battle between Birkhead and Howard K Stern, who also believed he was Dannielynn's father.

Birkhead eventually won custody. During this latest interview, he paid tribute to his daughter, who he said was a "grade A student".

WATCH Anna Nicole Smith's last interview with Entertainment Tonight. Post continues after video...

"I look at her and she's my everything. When I see how big she's become, I'm just so proud of her...She reminds me so much of her mom and as she gets older, and her features are changing, it's just like having a little miniature Anna Nicole running around in so many ways," he said.

It's nice to see that Dannielynn is doing well, and we wish her and her dad the very best, especially considering she had such a tragic start to life.

TAP on the image below and scroll through the gallery to see more photos of Anna Nicole Smith...