Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire in Montreal's West Island is a tiny, little town that is a bit sleepy. The West Island can be confusing for those who aren't familiar to its significance. They often believe it is an island west of Montreal however it's actually the West Island encompasses everything between the cities that are Lachine and West. Amanda Brugel is said to be born on the West Island, although it's not the case. Brugel grew to be a young woman living in Courtice Ontario just outside Oshawa. She aspired to be professional, however due to a rapid increase in her height, she outgrew all of her dancing partners. She admitted in an article that was published in the Toronto Star that she is 6'1" tall and wears heels. After I surpassed my male counterparts, that's when I gave up. Many ex-dancers switch to acting. For Brugel it was the guidance by her drama instructor at high school that led her to the path she wanted. She was a teacher at the time who advised her to go after a role in the school's annual production. Following a trial the role, she was chosen as the main character of Anne of Green Gables. This led to her being awarded a Fine Arts Talent Scholarship from York University. In 2000, she received her Master of Fine Arts at York University. Brugel's career spans over twenty years, and she's appeared in 60 different productions, both on big screens and on smaller ones. Her most recognizable role was the one of Rita (pictured below) in the television show The Handmaid's Tale. Brugel is the only Canadian actor on the show in the season 1 which was viewed only on occasion.