Five Fast Facts About The Handmaid’s Tale Star Amanda Brugel

Amanda Brugel is one of the many talented stars of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, as she plays the always tough and resilient Martha, Rita. Though Rita hasn’t been as involved in Season 3, it’s only a matter of time before she helps June (Elisabeth Moss) with her master plan.

From the creative passion she had before acting to her non-profit work, here are five fast facts you need to know about The Handmaid’s Tale actress, Amanda Brugel.

In the Beginning 
Brugel was born and raised in Pointe-Claire, Canada, but before she became interested in acting she was actually a very talented dancer. However, she decided to quit dancing once she became taller than most of her partners. The acting bug got her once she was in college and she hasn’t looked back.

Tough Audition
After working on a number of popular television shows in Canada, Brugel landed an audition to play Rita on The Handmaid’s Tale. However, she had to go through multiple rounds because the show’s creators really wanted a recognizable name. In order to stand out, Brugel said she knew the book and had done a lot of research. She got it!

Getting Personal
Brugel has been married to her husband Marcel Lewis since 2008 and together they have two boys, Jude and Phoenix. Brugel frequently shares photos of her kids on her Instagram page and is very open about the difficulties of balancing her work life with her family life — an issue which so many parents can obviously relate.

Charitable Heart
Along with acting, Brugel is very passionate about her non-profit work. She has an organization called Brugs Army, which focuses on improving the lives of women and children by raising money for different charities. The first recipient was Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in 2013.

Devastating Loss
Brugel revealed only a few weeks ago that her beloved father, Michael Brugel, had suddenly passed away. Though she didn’t reveal how he passed away, she did share how close she was with him. Her father adopted her when she was quite young, as her mother had her with a different man that Brugel never knew.