Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire, a quiet town in The West Island of Montreal is where you can find a range of small companies. Many people don't know the significance of the word as they believe that it's an independent Island to the west of Montreal. In fact, West Island is actually a whole island. West Island includes the entire part of the island from Lachine towards the west. It is often cited as the place of birth for Amanda Brugel, but while this is the case the time she spent there was brief. Brugel began her life in Courtice outside of Oshawa. Her first ambition was to become a professional dancer but her growing years meant that she was able to outgrow her dance partner. In an article published by The Toronto Star, she confessed, "In heels I am six feet and one inch." When I grew out of the male dancers I worked with, I resigned. Some former dancers switch into acting. In Bruce's case, it was the nudge of a drama teacher at the high school that pushed her into the proper direction. It was the teacher who recommended she take on a part in the annual school production. She tried out and eventually was chosen to play the lead for the role of Rita in Anne of Green Gables. It led to the award of a Fine Arts Talent Scholarship at York University where she attended the Theatre Program and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2000.In the 20+ years since, Brugel has landed roles in more than 60 productions in both the small and the large screens. Her most notable role attracted media attention after she got her role as Rita on the award-winning TV series, The Handmaid's Tale