Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire resides in a sleepy part of Montreal Island known as West Island. The West Island, to those who have never heard of it, is an extensive area that extends from Lachine all the way west. Amanda Brugel is said to have been born on West Island. However, this is not true. Brugel was raised on Courtice located just outside Oshawa in Ontario. The first goal she had was to become a dancer. Then, a growth rate increased her height and she outgrew every dance partner she was able to have. In an interview with the Toronto Star, she confessed that "In heels, I'm 6 feet 1 inches." When I outgrew my male friends, I quit. Many ex-dancers switch to acting. For Brugel it was because of the advice from her drama teacher at her high school which pushed her in the direction she required. The teacher recommended that she try out for a school production. She was the teacher who suggested that she take on a part in the annual school production. It led to her receiving the Fine Arts Talent Scholarship from York University. In 2000 she earned her BA in Fine Arts at York University. Brugel's career spans over twenty years, and she's performed in more than 60 shows that have screened on large screens as well as smaller screens. Her most notable role was as Rita (pictured below) on The Handmaid's Tale. Brugel was the sole Canadian on the Season 1 cast of the show as well as appearing only on occasion, was the only Canadian.