She’s a Hustler, Baby

Taryn Manning has one of the most unconventional resumés in Hollywood. At 26, she’s driven cross–country with Britney Spears in Crossroads, ditched Eminem in 8 Mile and dry–humped Philip Seymour Hoffman in Cold Mountain. In her spare time, she fronts a band with her brother (Boomkat), designs a fashion line (Born Uniqorn), and counts roller skating, dance and karate ass–kicking among her many skills. Not bad for a chick who didn’t make the cut for Coyote Ugly.

“So far, so good,” says Manning of her current run. “I’ve had a lot of small parts in big films, but I’ve managed to make a mark.” And by the looks of it, the best is yet to come. This summer, the petite blonde will appear in five films, including the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love with Ashton Kutcher, and the hotly anticipated Hustle & Flow, in which she plays Nola, a cornrowed “hooker with a heart of gold.”

“It’s the kind of role I usually get offered, but it was such a great film I couldn’t say no,” says Manning about Hustle. “I’m sure all these girls who play the girl next door would die to have the roles I play, and here I’m dying to play the normal girl. But I guess I don’t look like her.” And that’s definitely a good thing.—Jessica Hundley