Taryn Manning

Taryn Manning (born November 6, 1978) is an American actress, singer, songwriter, producer and director best known for her versatile roles across film, television and music. Growing up in a modest trailer‑park household after her parents' divorce, Manning was raised by her mother in Tucson, Arizona, before moving to Encinitas, California at age twelve; the early loss of her father to suicide deeply impacted her artistic drive. She entered the entertainment industry in the late 1990s with guest spots on series such as The Practice, NYPD Blue and Boston Public, and made her film debut in Crazy/Beautiful before landing supporting parts in Crossroads, 8 Mi​le and Cold Mountain. Her breakout performance arrived in Craig Brewer’s 2005 drama Hustle & Flow, where she portrayed Nola, a Memphis prostitute whose raw energy earned critical praise and opened doors to more substantial roles. From 2008 onward Manning became a household name through television, most notably as Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett in Netflix’s groundbreaking series Orange Is the New Black (2013‑2019), and as Cherry in Sons of Anarchy. Parallel to her acting career, she co‑founded the electro‑pop duo Boomkat with her brother Kellin, releasing the hit single “The Wreckoning” which topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart and appeared in several film soundtracks. As a solo artist she achieved multiple #1s on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart with tracks like “Send Me Your Love” and “Gltchlfe”. Manning has also ventured into entrepreneurship, founding the independent label Little Vanilla Records and co‑owning a clothing line. Despite public legal and personal challenges, including arrests and substance‑abuse struggles, she remains an influential figure who continuously blends acting and music, shaping her unique presence in contemporary pop culture.