Amanda Brugel

Pointe Claire lies in that uninhabited part of the city's West Island. Many people unfamiliar with the word often think that it's a isolated island to the west of Montreal, but in fact it's a part of the city that's west. West Island is home to every aspect of Lachine west to Lachine west. Amanda Brugel was born there in fact, it's true. The only thing is that she was there for a brief period. Brugel was raised in Courtice near Oshawa. She hoped to be a dancer from the start however due to the rapid growth of her body, she surpassed dance partners. According to an article in The Toronto Star she admitted, "In heels at 6' 1 inch. After I had outgrown my male friends, I quit. Many ex-dancers switch to acting. For Brugel, she was encouraged by an instructor of drama in the high school. It was suggested that she try out for roles of the production at her school. The teacher suggested she audition for a character in the annual school production. It was her turn to be selected to portray Anne of Green Gables. The show led her to receive a Fine Arts Talent Scholarship at York University where she attended the Theater Program and graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in 2000.In the 20+ years since, Brugel has landed roles in over 60 shows that have screened on both small and large screens. She attracted the most notice when she won the lead role of Rita on the award-winning series, The Handmaid's Tale