Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire, a quiet neighborhood located in the West Island of Montreal is something you could call a "sleepy" area. This West Island, to those who have never heard of it, is a large area that extends from Lachine all the way west. Amanda Brugel's birthplace is frequently mentioned, but her brief stay wasn't. Brugel lived in Courtice near Oshawa in Ontario. Her first ambition was to be an expert dancer. But, a growing spurt caused her to outgrow every dance partner she was able to have. In an article in The Toronto Star she admitted In heels, I'm 6 feet one inch. When I surpassed the size of my male companion and stopped dancing, I quit. Many former dancers turn to acting, and in the case of Brugel, it was the nudge of the drama instructor at her high school which encouraged her to go in that direction. Teacher who recommended she try to get a role for school's annual play. After a few auditions her options, she was eventually the lead actress in Anne of Green Gables. It led to her receiving an Fine Arts Talent Scholarship from York University. In 2000 she graduated with a BA in Fine Arts at York University. Brugel's career spans over 20 years and she's appeared in 60 different productions including big screen productions and on smaller ones. Her most notable role was as Rita (pictured below) on The Handmaid's Tale. Brugel was the sole Canadian in the season 1 actors of the series and seen only occasionally, was the sole Canadian.