By Jacquelynn D. Powers, Photographs: Odette Sugarman

aryn Manning is the complete antithesis of an It Girl: She's brash, honest, funny, quirky, offbeat and, most importantly, infinitely talented. Yes, Taryn, 27, is a multihyphenate (actress-singer-dancerdesigner), but she is adept at each artistic endeavor. Whether she's singing on the 8 Mile soundtrack or appearing in films like Hustle & Flow, Manning is always singularly focused on her craft—and not the perks of fame. Currently, the pixieish performer is an underground sensation with a cultlike devotion in far-flung destinations such as Tokyo (where her songs have been number-one hits). But after a career-defining role as a down-on-her-luck hooker in Hustle & Flow, the entire industry is starting to take notice of this new rising star.

Don't let her size fool you. Taryn positively oozes moxie, despite her petite frame. Not only was her portrayal of Nola in Hustle & Flow larger than life, but when she sings, this chick can also wail. Her rendition of "I'll Take You There" in a Gap advertisement three years ago was critically hailed—even though she was virtually unknown. More recently, in The Breed, a fright flick due out this year, Manning was lauded for her vocal ability: "I have a really great scream," she says. "People say I have a very loud, scary, horror scream."

Taryn put that howl to good use last September when JetBlue flight number 292 had to make an emergency landing at LAX because the landing gear was damaged. The incident was televised live—both inside the cabin and to millions of transfixed viewers around the nation. "It was crazy to watch it on TV," the actress remembers. "It was wild and very traumatic. I hate flying anyway, so I couldn't believe what was happening to me. You become numb. You realize how powerless you are. I've never had that feeling before of losing total control. A lot of us up there were pretty freaked out. I was next to this guy who was filming himself saying good-bye to his girlfriend. I was next to this other guy who was writing in his journal and crying. I looked back at one point and I got a thumbs-up from this old man. He could see how scared I was and he gave me a thumbs-up. I'll never forget that. I heard all sorts of wacky things: One of the flight attendants made out with one of the passengers."

That near-death episode proved once again that she is a survivor. Not only has Manning beaten the odds in a cutthroat industry that doesn't necessarily reward talent, but she is also doing it on her own terms. "I'm so motivated," Taryn says in her signature raspy voice. "I come from a poor background. I have this mentality that if I don't make money I'll die. I have nothing to fall back on, no family money." Born in Tucson, Arizona, Manning hails from an artistic family; her mother was a dancer, her father a musician. Taking that cue, she began dancing at age 10, everything from ballet to jazz. She proved to be more successful than the average suburban kid, and soon moved to California with her mother and brother, Kellin, to attend a performing-arts high school in Orange County. From there it was a natural segue to Los Angeles, where Taryn was hired as a dancer in music videos and commercials ...

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