Taryn Manning's acting career, other ventures:

Acting career
1999-2005: Career beginnings
Manning began acting in the late 1990s, appearing in small roles in several film and television productions, including episodes of The Practice, Get Real, Speedway Junky, NYPD Blue and Popular. Shortly after she began studying acting and went to different schools to pursue her dreams. She also made a guest-appearance on the critically acclaimed TV series Boston Public, in a role that was specifically written for her. In 1999, she was featured in an independent film called Speedway Junky, which gave rise to later roles on television. She also auditioned for the American version of Popstars, which aired in early 2001 on The WB.
Television stardom led to roles in major motion pictures, and she made her film debut with a part in the Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez romantic drama crazy/beautiful in which she played the best friend of Dunst's character. Crazy/beautiful was followed shortly by a prominent role in the 2002 feature film, Crossroads, where she played one of two best friends of singer Britney Spears. When talking about filming of Crossroads, Manning said: "It was absolutely insane filming that movie. We'd be trying to film a scene and that whole hour, borders of our set would be filled with screaming fans holding up signs as we're trying to go, like 'Action!'" Continuing her connection with pop music, she appeared in 8 Mile, as Eminem's former girlfriend. Next she appeared in Peter Kosminksy's White Oleander, based on the novel of the same name. Along with supporting roles in the minor films Lucky 13 and Debating Robert Lee, Manning appeared briefly in Anthony Minghella's acclaimed Civil War melodrama Cold Mountain and in the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love.
E! Online picked her for its "Sizzlin' 16" list of 2002. She has appeared on the covers of the July 2003 issue of FHM, the May 2007 issue of Stuff and was the December 2007 entry in Stuff magazine's 2006-2007 pin up calendar. She was ranked #33 in Stuff magazine's 103 Sexiest Women in 2003, #59 in Maxim`s Hot 100 Women 2003 and #60 in 2008.
2005-present: Independent films and breakthrough
Her breakthrough role was as Nola in the 2005 film Hustle & Flow, opposite Terrence Howard, playing a prostitute in Memphis, Tennessee. The film received critical acclaim and was generally considered a success. Manning was nominated in the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards for Best Breakthrough Performance. Director Craig Brewer saw Manning's picture in a photography book and was convinced that the actress who played Nola should look just like her. "There are some people who put on trashy like a wardrobe, and Taryn can play those roles with dignity and earnestness," Brewer said of Manning. Her other subsequent film roles included roles in Unbeatable Harold and When the Nines Roll Over. When the Nines Roll Over is a drama film centred around a jaded hipster A&R executive tries to steal a talented and sexy young singer away from a small label. Her next film was Weirdsville, a dark comedy co-starring Scott Speedman and Wes Bentley. Boomkat's song "It's Not My Fault" appeared on the soundtrack of Weirdsville as a duet by Manning and John Rowley. In 2007, she played Ivy Chitty on the short-lived but critically acclaimed Fox television series Drive, which was a drama about various people competing in an illegal cross-country road race. In After Sex, seven short films within one, Manning played the supporting role of Alanna. She had leading roles in the horror films Cult and Banshee; in the latter, she performed her own stunts. "I got hurt one day during one of the chase scenes, where another car crashed into my car," Manning explained of her stunts. There has been rumors of a Banshee sequel or spin-off series in the future.
Manning appeared opposite Freddie Prinze Jr in the romantic comedy Jack and Jill vs. the World. She played Rita Cherry on four episodes of Sons of Anarchy; co-star Katey Sagal called her performance fantastic. At first she made a guest appearance on the show and later rejoined, because her performance was so well-received. Later in 2008 she appeared as the female lead in Butch Walker's music video for "The Weight Of Her" and in Will.i.am's collage-style music video, "Yes We Can". She co-starred with Bill Pullman in the drama film Your Name Here, in which she played Nikki, who is based on Victoria Principal. The film is based loosely on sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick's life.
Manning's dream role would be in a musical like Moulin Rouge, because she "grew up dancing". When she was a child, she appeared in many musicals and plays. She admires her friend Gina Gershon's musical appearances. In 2009, she appeared as Rose Atropos in a dramatic music-themed film The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll. The film received mostly favorable reviews from critics and fans. Manning joined forces with Ron Perlman in two 2009 films, The Devil's Tomb and The Job. She also appeared in a horror film Kill Theory, which tells the story of a group of college students, who find themselves targeted by a sadistic killer. Drama film The Job premiered at the San Diego Film Festival on September 25, 2009. Critics called the film "entertaining and fun with twists that arrives like clockwork".
She recently signed on to portray Caroline Bishop, the love interest to Kris Black's coal miner turned boxer in Five Good Years. In February 2010, she was cast in the Hawaii Five-O remake as the younger sister of main character Steve McGarrett.

Other ventures:
Boomkat's record company, Little Vanilla Records is owned by Manning. She has a clothing line called Born Uniqorn with best friend Tara Jane. The brand was founded in fall 2005. Born Uniqorn has hosted many benefits for charity organizations in Los Angeles. Her fashion icons are Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet. Manning was honored with "Film Fashion Visionary" award at the 2009 Bel Air Film Festival. She has appeared in Juicy Couture's advertising campaign and in Frankie B`s spring 2009 campaign. They shot a short film, which follows a day in the life of a Frankie B. woman. The video is called "Let's Get Lost" which is the original song featured in the video by musician Gilby Clarke with vocals by Manning.
Manning also works as a DJ. She was the DJ at World on Wheels, which hosted an 80’s themed benefit for HOW (Helping Others Worldwide).
She also updates a weekly blog on younghollywood.com.