Taryn Manning (Mimi)
What's the most interesting place you've gone to for a film shoot?
The most interesting place I've gone as an actress is getting to go on location filming this movie. I've never gotten to go on location, so I was excited to go see New Orleans. That was great, lots of fun.
How did you get chosen for your role in this film?
I had to read first with the casting director and then the director, and then I got to meet with Britney. I went through the process of auditioning like every other struggling actress in this town.
Do you hang out with Britney all the time now?
We hung out and we went and saw Alicia Keys together one night when she first came out on her tour. We saw her and had a fun night - but she (Britney) is busy.
Did you all hang out while you were shooting?
Every day! We were together every day. We were in the car so much that we just ended up chatting in between filming. We got really close.
In some films, the major star seems to get all the scenes and key lines. Were you relieved when you read the script that you had some really nice moments in the film?
That's what initially attracted me (to the film). I thought that it was a really great story about friendship and we are all really pivotal to the plot. That's why I loved the script. We all played such an equal role in the story.
Were there things in the script that didn't seem like teenagers would do, and that you pointed out?
We got to actually write a scene because the other writer, Shonda (Rhimes), said, “What's something crazy that you would do with your friends?” And we're like, “Hell, flash people!” That's kind of something that when we were young…kind of daring. We got to write that scene in but it got cut. It might be on the DVD.
Where in the film did you flash?
We flashed when we were at the hotel celebrating. The girls start drinking a little too much so we end up going down the hall and flashing, but it didn't make it in the movie.
You play a pregnant teen in the film. Did you keep your belly?
Did I save it for a souvenir? No, they didn't give it to me! Should I have asked? I could wear it for Halloween. During the filming we were talking about how funny it would be to go out in it, and just do everything opposite from a pregnant woman. Just go to a club and disturb people.
How long did it take to get used to wearing it all day?
It took the whole duration of the film. I was just happy to remove it. I was like, “It's the last day I get to wear it!” It started to stink, too. It was filled with birdseed to make it really pliable. When you touch it, it had a real human kind of feeling. After a while, I thought I was about to make the “Attack of the Birds” film. I thought they were all going to come after my stomach when it got so strong (smelling).
Does it change the dynamic of the set when you shoot with a pop star, or when you work with someone like Kirsten Dunst?
It's just different in the music world. You come more with an entourage, I don't know why that is; it just calls for that more actual daily support by your team. With Kirsten it's like her managers came to the set, but there's definitely a whole different vibe on the set when there's like basically royalty working with us. We could have whatever we wanted. The best thing about it was we were all treated so equally. I felt like Britney Spears in some ways. They were so nice and so kind to all of us. Ann, Shonda the writer, and Tamra were just such really soulful people and they made such a pleasant day for us to work, every day. I never left going, “I never want to come back!” I was so excited to go (to work).
You have a musical background, as does Britney. Did you feel like you never got a chance to display what you can do?
That's the character. That's why I'm an actress. That was fun for me - to do something completely opposite from myself. Really, that scene for me was really challenging to freeze up and feel really scared. That was fun - I can say that I accomplished something because I wouldn't do that, I would grab the mic and take it.
Can you talk a little about your band, Boomkats?
We are going to come out with our album this summer. And hopefully a single in May or June.
Did you get a chance to jam with Britney at all?
We sang so much. I mean this girl has a voice like no other.
Will music play a much more important role in your life than acting?
I'm not sure. It's like I enjoy doing them both so much. My singing is my hobby. It's me and my brother and we just enjoy, whenever we spend time together, writing music. I just get focused on whatever is in front of me. When I was filming “Crossroads,” it had all my focus. Now “Crossroads” is done and I did two other small parts in some films, and now I'm all focused on finishing my recording so I can get that out. It's just whatever - day by day.
When you were little girls, what would you have put in your memory box?
I buried like tons of small animals (laughing). A gerbil, a parakeet - they all died. I don't understand because every time I left town and came home, my mom - she's like an herbal vitamin freak - and she'd try and get them all healthy. Honestly, I don't know what I would bury. Maybe my baton? I was a little baton twirler. Maybe my first Playskool little radio with an attached microphone that you can hold.
Who is your character in “8 Mile” and what was it like working with Eminem?
I play, in real life, Kim, who is actually Marshall Mathers ex-wife as of now. My character is a woman who gets left by the man that she loves with the house, the car, but she's actually…she lies and says she is pregnant because she really wants to keep him and he figures her out. He's just kind of sick of it but he ends up wanting her back because it is true love. It is his real love even though he has to go off and be with another girl, and go rap to see what's real to him. He comes back.
We've heard this isn't his real life story.
It's not his life but it is very loosely based on his life. After reading his autobiography - which I did because I'm so interested in him as an artist - his life has been quite a roller coaster and I respect him a lot. Even though he seems angry and mad, he's had to fight so many demons in his life. I relate to him so much because we've been through a lot of similar things. It is loosely based on his upbringing in 1995 in Detroit. It's basically based on one year so it's not like the whole duration. It's just one pivotal year in his life.
Can you talk about “White Oleander?”
“White Oleander” is a great, great novel. A page-turner, to say the least. I'm a part of the film and it's an amazing cast. I just feel so happy to be a part of such a great cast.
Did you learn from Michelle Pfeiffer?
I didn't get to work with her; I worked with the lead, Alison Lohman. We had all of our scenes together but I learned from her. She's an amazing actress and she was cast perfectly for the role. I was so proud. When I read the novel I was like, “Wow, what a role of a lifetime for the person who gets this.” She's every bit deserving of it. It was such a good experience.
