Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire, a quiet neighborhood situated in the West Island of Montreal is something you could call a "sleepy" place. In reality, the West Island, to those not familiar with it, is a large section that extends from Lachine all the way west. Amanda Brugel was born there, but her time within the city was brief. Brugel grew in Courtice close to Oshawa. She had a dream to become professional, however due to her rapid increase in her height, she surpassed all of her dance colleagues. In an article in the Toronto Star she admitted In heels I'm 6'1 inch. After I outgrew the males in my group, I decided to quit. Many former dancers turn into acting and Brugel was no exception. Drama teacher at her high school encouraged Brugel in her direction that she required. Her teacher advised her to audition for a part in her school's production. A teacher suggested that she play a character in the school's annual show. It was her turn to be awarded an Fine Arts Talent Scholarship to study at York University's theatre Program and graduated at the age of 20 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. Over the past 20 years since, Brugel was offered roles in more than 60 productions across the small and big screens receiving the greatest attention when she was cast as Rita on the award-winning TV series The Handmaid's Tale (pictured below). Brugel was the only Canadian participant during the season 1 of the series and she was only seen on occasion.