10 Surprising Early Roles Of Orange Is The New Black Stars
8. Taryn Manning - Crazy/Beautiful, Crossroads And 8-Mile
Taryn Manning, who plays Pennsatucky on Orange Is The New Black, got her start in minor roles on shows like The Practice, NYPD Blue and Boston Public. Her first major film role, though, came in the 2001 Kirsten Dunst movie Crazy/Beautiful. In that film she plays the best friend of Dunst’s character, a rather dark role.
The following year she was in Crossroads with Britney Spears in which she played Mimi, a rape victim who becomes pregnant at the beginning of the film. That same year she was in 8-Mile, playing Jimmy’s dysfunctional ex-girlfriend Janeane.
From these early roles, Taryn was delving into the world of complex, troubled characters, something she continues to do as Pennsatucky. Speaking about the idea of being typecast, Tarynn Manning told Vulture that “At least ten times in my career an agent has called me and been like, 'Hey, in the breakdowns today they’re looking for a Taryn Manning type.' I’m like, Is that a compliment or is that…?”