Taryn Manning is full of surprises. A multi-talented and strong-willed survivor, find out why she’s everything and nothing like what you’d expect.
“Music is an outlet for me,” says the Taryn Manning. “I’m able to get out my feelings and emotions, whether happy or sad. It’s a projective way for me to express myself; it’s all mine, not someone else’s words. My lyrics are pretty honest.” In addition to a solo career that saw the debut of the music video “All the Way” earlier this year, Manning is also part of the electronic pop duo Boomkat with her brother Kellin. The siblings released their debut album Boomkatalog.One in 2003 and their second album A Million Trillion Stars came out six years later.
“I’ve been a part of so many musically driven films and I don’t think that’s by accident,” says Manning of her roles in films such as 8 Mile and Hustle & Flow. In addition to singing, she also likes to spin tunes as a DJ and has her own clothing line Born Uniqorn, which she released in 2005 with her BFF Tara Jane. The message behind the line is to be true to yourself and to be unique – hence the quirky spelling.
Yet in spite of all these accomplishments, the 36-year-old is best recognized for her role as the terrifyingly twisted, meth head turned born-again Christian Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett in Netflix’s breakout hit Orange Is The New Black. “People will grab me now—they’ll actually grab me—and be like, ‘Heeeeyyy!’ It’s scary; I’m just, like, walking, I’ll be grabbed from behind, and it’s this scary, huge man, that’s like, ‘You!’” (In reference to Pennsatucky.) She even gets mail from prisoners. “I thought I would get a lot of hate male with the religious stuff and racism that my character displays; but I haven’t so that’s a good thing.”
Humble Beginnings
Manning is the first to point out that “growing up wasn’t easy.” The Tucson, Arizona raised star said that her challenges “shaped me into who I am now. There were a lot of hardships, but also a lot of beauty.”
She reminisces that her first job was at age 13 because she had to help out her family. “I had to lie and say I was 15 to get it.” She grew up in a mobile home and admits, “Sometimes I miss the sound of rain falling on our tin mobile home.” She says that in spite of humble beginnings her mother was a great influence on her and she grew up very well educated. “My mom made the most out of what we had,” says Manning.
Manning’s mom also instilled an appreciation for good nutrition and healthy living. “I learned the benefits of wheat grass, carob instead of chocolate, acupuncture, meditation and living a holistic lifestyle, which I’m so grateful for today,” she says. In fact, Manning just returned from the Optimum Health Institute clinic for a mind, body and spirit cleanse.
Adopting a holistic lifestyle, Manning has embraced meditation to help centre herself in this crazy world. “I do a lot of guided meditations, mostly at night,” she says. “Not TM, but some chanting, breathing and meditation. It helps clear my mind and it lowers any stress levels that might have built up. It helps me deal with the uncertainly of life better.”
Healthy On the Run
Manning’s constant travel for work leaves little time for home cooking. When she is at home in her Hollywood kitchen, she makes lots of salads, fresh vegetable juice and keeps burritos in the freezer due to her penchant for Mexican food. “I don’t eat chicken or red meats; just a little bit of fish. It’s a combination of moral and health reasons,” she says. “I love making a salad full of greens, garbanzo beans, half a can of tuna, shaved Parmesan, cherry tomatoes and I mix that all up in a giant bowl.
“I’ve got to say I’m not really happy with the way fruits and vegetables are grown though.” To help supplement for produce that may not be as nutrient rich as it was decades ago, Manning takes supplements include a multi-vitamin and vitamin D.
She admits that her exercise routine is anything but regular. “Does running through an airport with my DJ stuff, backpack and bag count as constant exercise?” she asks earnestly. “Seriously, my legs have become stronger from all of that.” The actor also walks her dog Penguin every morning.
In terms of traditional exercise Manning does yoga and a ballet barre workout whenever possible. Growing up moving and grooving to music, it’s no surprise that barre classes are her favorite form of exercise. “It hits almost every area of the body,” says Manning. “It just feels really good to get back in there and stretch.
Survival Skills
In addition to everything else on her plate, Manning is starring in Lifetime’s Cleveland Abduction, which premieres April 25th. It’s based on Michelle Knight’s best-selling memoir of the Cleveland kidnappings; Manning plays Knight. “It was amazing to portray such a strong survivor,” says Manning. In spite of everything that happened to her she just didn’t give up.
Manning continues to be motivated to do more and to shape her future, in part by her family and friends and in part by a life-long survival mode. “There’s probably some ego thrown in there too,” she admits. “It’s all fun though. It’s an amazing business I’m in and there are not a lot of us who actually get to make it. I think I’ve been severely typecast in Hollywood as an edgy type of woman and there certainly isn’t an innocence about me. I’ve lived a life of independence for a long time. I’ve not done anything terribly bad, but I’m not naïve at all.” She pauses and there’s complete silence for a full minute. Then she smiles and everything is right with the world. “I think gratefulness keeps me going and the odds of what I do keep me going. There are a lot of reasons why I keep going.”
By: Bonnie Seigler
Photography: Elisabeth Caren
Shot on location at Mari Vanna, Los Angeles
