Amanda Brugel

(February 27th of 2010 to Toronto ON) Pointe Claire is a quiet community located on the part of Montreal that is known as the West Island. It is the West Island, to those who have never heard of it, is an extensive area that extends from Lachine until the west. Amanda Brugel grew up on this island, and it is frequently called her birthplace. However, she only resided there for a very short time. Brugel was raised in Courtice, just outside of Oshawa. She wanted to become a professional dancer, but due to a rapid growth spurt she outgrew all of her dancing partners. She admitted in an article published by The Toronto Star that she is 6'1" tall and wears heels. As soon as I outgrew my male counterparts then I stopped. A lot of former dancers go on into acting. In Brugel's case it was a suggestion from the drama instructor at her high school who encouraged her to go in that direction. The teacher suggested she try to find a role in the school's annual show. She auditioned and was cast in the role of Anne of Green Gables. The show led her to receive a Fine Arts Talent Scholarship at York University where she attended the Theater Program and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2000. Her career spans 20 years and she has been in over 60 productions including big screen productions and smaller ones. Her most notable role was that of Rita (pictured below) in the television show The Handmaid's Tale. Brugel was the only Canadian cast member in Season 1 of the series and not seen much.