Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire resides in a sleepy part of Montreal Island, which is known as West Island. People who don't understand they mistakenly believe the West Island extends westward from Montreal. Actually it is the West Island includes everything westward of the city of Lachine. Amanda Brugel was born there, but her time in the city wasn't long. Brugel lived in Courtice close to Oshawa Ontario. Her first ambition was to be a dancer. But, a growing spurt caused her to outgrow her dance partners she was able to have. In a recent interview with the Toronto Star, she confessed that "In heels I am 6 feet, 1 inch." After I outgrew the male counterparts, I gave up. Many former dancers turn to acting and in the case of Brugel, it was an urging by her drama teacher. It was the teacher who recommended she pursue a role for the annual school production. The teacher who suggested that she go after a role in the school's annual production. The show led her to receive the award of a Fine Arts Talent Scholarship at York University where she attended the Theatre Program and graduated with the Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in the year 2000. Her career spans twenty years, and she's performed in more than 60 shows including big screen productions and on smaller ones. Her most recognizable role was that of Rita (pictured below) on The Handmaid's Tale. Brugel is the only Canadian actress in Season 1 which was viewed only occasionally.