Taryn Manning - Stuff Magazine May 2007

Taryn Manning (born November 6, 1978) is an American actress and singer/songwriter of the band Boomkat.

Manning began acting in the late 1990s, appearing in small roles in several film and television productions, including episodes of The Practice, Get Real, Boston Public, NYPD Blue and Popular. She tried out for WB's Popstars in 2001. Her first role in a major motion picture was in the Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez romantic-comedy crazy/beautiful which was followed shortly by a prominent role in the 2002 Britney Spears feature film, Crossroads, where she played one of the Spears' character's best friends. Her subsequent film roles included supporting parts in White Oleander, 8 Mile, A Lot Like Love and the historical epic Cold Mountain.

In 2003, Manning and her brother formed the band Boomkat. Their debut album, Boomkatalog.One, was released on March 18th, 2003. She sang a rendition of "I'll Take You There" with Tweet in a Gap commercial, and a Boomkat song was included on the 8 Mile soundtrack.

In 2005, she appeared in the drama film Hustle & Flow, opposite Terrence Howard, playing a troubled prostitute in the Deep South. The film received critical acclaim and was generally considered a success. Her next film will be Weirdsville, a comedy co-starring Scott Speedman and Wes Bentley.