Taryn Manning: I don’t fear being typecast as ‘troubled’ – it’s been cool to recreate stereotypes

US star Taryn Manning has said she no longer fears being typecast as “troubled”, because the roles allow her to break down stereotypes.

Manning, 38, is famed for playing inmate Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett in Orange Is The New Black, as well as being the downtrodden ex-girlfriend of Eminem’s character in 8 Mile and a prostitute in Hustle & Flow.

Her latest role sees her cast as Vee Dillon along- side screen sister Leah (Clint Eastwood’s grand-daughter Francesca), who try to rob a bank to save their brother in heist thriller The Vault.

She told the Standard: “I tend to get troubled roles or colourful characters. They may seem down and out but there is a reason they became that way.

“I don’t like putting them all in one box because there are all different types of down and out and troubled. It’s been really cool to recreate stereotypes... now it’s cool that I got to make a career out of acting and the challenge is how to make all the characters different.”

Manning is also a singer-songwriter and was in musical duo Boomkat with her brother, as well as co-owning clothing brand Born Uniqorn. Now she has shown yet another talent, by directing a web series.

“It’s very daunting,” she said. “For the first time I directed a web series. It’s really fun to watch actors do their thing when you let them go and don’t call ‘cut’.

“You’re the conductor in the orchestra which is really cool and they have to be nice and resect you because you’re the boss.

“Some [actors] don’t take notes well or can’t hit the beat or they get shy under pressure, but then there are scenes that turn into pure magic when you let them improvise.”

Manning, who said she has “always been a little businesswoman to get out of poverty”, is also keen to tread the boards on Broadway or London’s West End: “I always tell my agent. I have auditioned for a couple [of plays] and that’s a crazy world. I love theatre and I think I’d do really well in it.

“I started off in theatre and musicals so it would be going back to the beginning and the roots of how I got into the business. It’s a matter of time if my damn agent listens to me.”

The Vault is in cinemas and on iTunes & digital HD from September 8.