Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire resides in a sleepy part of Montreal Island called West Island. The West Island, to those who are unfamiliar with it, is a large region that runs from Lachine all the way west. Amanda Brugel's birthplace is frequently cited, however her short stay was not. Brugel grew to be a young woman living in Courtice Ontario, just outside Oshawa. Her initial ambition was to be an actor, however, after a rapid increase in size, her friends weren't able to dance with her. In an article published in The Toronto Star she admitted In heels, I'm 6'1 inch. Once I outgrew male partners and gave up, I decided to give up. A lot of former dancers go on to act. For Brugel it was because of the advice from her drama teacher in high school who pushed her to take the step she wanted. The teacher encouraged her to take part in an audition in a school production. She tried out and eventually got the lead for the role in Anne of Green Gables. It led to a Fine Arts Talent Scholarship at York University where she attended the Theater Program and graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in 2000. Over the last 20 years, Brugel's work been seen on the large and small screen. Her work gained most recognition when she landed her character of Rita in the acclaimed television show The Handmaid's Tale. Brugel was the only Canadian cast member for the season 1 of the show and was not seen much.