Hype

Age: 23. Hometown: Tuscon, Arizona. Profession: "I'm a dancer who can sing, I'm a singer who can act, I'm an actress who can dance."Why? "My mom, she raised me to do everything . She put me in dance classes, made me sing all the time in front of people... like, 'Sing for Grand ma!', 'No!', "C'mon!', 'All right.' And I sang." Jagged Little Pill: Since moving to L.A. four yea rs ago, Manning's made a name for herself exploring the grittier side of young adulthood in such films as Crazy/Beautiful (as Kirsten Dunst's drug-addled best bud) and Crossroads (as a gruff but kindhearted high schooler with an unwanted pregnancy). What's Next? She'll appear as Eminem's ex- girlfriend in Curtis Hanson's hip-hop paean 8 Mile, and will play a punk rock singer in White Oleander ("one of my favorite books, ever") alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Renee Zellweger. The Mile Files: Manning describes working on 8 Mile as a "surreal" experience. "Curtis was incredible, and ever since Eminem came out, I've just been crazy about his music and lyrics and his whole ... whole thing." Crossing Over: The performer's band, Boomkat - which includes Manning's brother Kellin - is realeasing its first CD later this summer. Edge Gives Her An Edge: "I am a little different. I am a little rough around the edges. And in this town, if you stand out in a different way than just being beautiful, you have a better chance, I think."