Taryn Manning

Born: 6 November 1978
Where: Tucson, Arizona, USA

The teenage karate and kickboxing champion first attracted attention alongside Kirsten Dunst in the romantic drama Crazy/Beautiful.

The same year she appeared with Britney Spears in Crossroads before broadening her appeal with the Eminem vehicle 8 Mile.

The daughter of a travelling musician, she started dancing when she was 12 and went on to train as a kickboxer as well as taking up karate and skating.

Her father died when she was 14 and at 19 she moved to Los Angeles where she began auditioning for roles as well as playing in a band.

She made her small screen debut in the American TV series Get Real in 1999 although she was later to unsuccessfully audition for the American version of Popstars.

In 2000, she ade a guest-appearance on the critically acclaimed US TV series Boston Public in a role that was specifically written for her.

Early big screen appearances included roles like tattoed dancer or groupie before she was cast as Kirsten Dunst's drug addled pal in Crazy/Beautiful.

Roles in Crossroads and White Oleander followed and she also appeared in the Eminem vehicle 8 Mile.

In 2003, she had a minor role in Cold Mountain and the independent films Debating Robert Lee and Dandelion.

She landed her first significant role in Craig Brewer's music drama Hustle & Flow in 2005.