Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire resides in a sleepy part of Montreal Island known as West Island. People unfamiliar with the term often think that it's a separate island somewhere west of Montreal but in fact this part of West Island is home to all things from Lachine west to the City of Lachine west. Amanda Brugel is said to have been born on the West Island, although it's not the case. Brugel was raised in Courtice, just outside of Oshawa. Early ambitions were to become an expert dancer. However, a growth rate increased her height and she outgrew every dance partner she was able to have. In a recent interview with the Toronto Star, she confessed that "In heels, I'm 6 feet, 1 inch." As I grew older than my male friends, I quit. Brugel was one of many former dancers that turned into acting. Her teacher from high school was what pushed her into the right direction. She was recommended by a teacher to get a role for the school's annual show. She auditioned and was cast in the role of Anne of Green Gables. It led to the award of a Fine Arts Talent Scholarship at York University where she attended the Theatre Program which she graduated with an Associate in Fine Arts degree in 2000. In the past 20 years, her work has been seen on both the small and large screen. The most notable was her attention when she won her role as Rita in the acclaimed television series The Handmaid's Tale. Brugel made an appearance on only a handful of occasions in the first season of the show The Handmaid's Tale. She was the sole Canadian participant.