Player hater

Amanda Brugel dishes about success, failure and the games people play to become famous

BY: Jon Sarpong

CANADIAN ACTRESS AMANDA BRUGEL isn’t interested in being famous. But the thoughtful thespian is certainly conscious of the difference between fame and the craft that she considers her personal passion.

“I used to look at magazines and think ‘this is what I want,’” says Brugel, sipping herbal tea in a coffee shop. “But magazines have nothing to do with acting or theatre, or why I love this profession. If you are basing your future in what you see in magazines or the buzz being created about you by others, you are not based in reality.”

For Brugel, the importance of having a firm understanding of identity has been developed through a lifetime of self-discovery. Adopted at a very early age, she was made aware of both her ethnic and family identities.

“Growing up, I was never allowed to discount any facet of my heritage or lineage,” says Brugel. “It’s important for me to treat every aspect of my background equally. My father is African American, but I’ve never met him. I was adopted by the man I speak of as my father, who is half Jewish and half Indian; my mother was born in England and made her way to Canada. So there is this eclectic mix of cultures and histories.”

Unlike many in the television and film industry, Brugel’s road to ‘the biz’ was initially relatively easy. Coaxed by a drama teacher to try out for the school play, Brugel landed the lead role playing Anne in Anne of Green Gables. With the offer of a full scholarship, she was soon at York University, flexing her theatrical muscles with other young visionaries. But soon after graduation, Brugel quickly realized that the multicultural, insulated world of campus theatre bore little resemblance to the global stage.

“I came out of theatre school with the idea that I was going to be a big star,” she says. “In school, they build you up, and because I’d been in an environment where they would cast blindly, I thought that was how the world operated. Only after leaving did I realize I wouldn’t be cast for roles like Ophelia — I was ignorant of the truth about the industry.”

Two quick acting jobs (including the 10th installment of the thriller film series Friday the 13th) seemed to be precursors to a promising career. But instead of casting calls and job offers, Brugel found herself at the beginning of what would prove to be an acting drought. Questioning herself, her craft and her willingness to go on, Brugel found herself at a crossroad.

“After my first two jobs, for the next five years, there was almost nothing,” says Brugel. “During that time it was difficult, especially when it came to auditioning. Agents would see my colour and not understand why I spoke a certain way. In a lot of cases, it would be from casting directors and often African- American female casting directors. There was this thinking that a girl who grew up half-white, half-Jewish, all over Canada couldn’t relate to certain ‘black’ roles or to the plight of the ghetto.”

Faced with the prospect of an industry that seemed to have no specific need for her talents, Brugel found herself questioning whether or not to leave showbiz. One night while debating her career with her now-fiancé, she found herself faced with a stark realization.

“My fiancé looked at me and said, ‘Well, you say that you are going to leave the business, but when have you ever really been a part of the business?’ Until that point, I think it was like I was playing dressup. I loved telling people that I was an actor, but without really putting in the work. So I came up with a business plan and started taking my auditions more seriously. I began to market myself and got my website going; I changed the way I looked at the business side of things.”

Brugel’s new approach has had tremendous results. Her new energy has grabbed the attention of casting agents thrilled by the unique flavour she brings to the screen. Since her transformation, she’s landed plum gigs including a recurring role on CBC TV’s series MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives [which has since been cancelled]. The career shift that she is now experiencing is a welcomed trend, and Brugel is intent on using her newfound opportunities to secure a future in the industry which she loves.

“I know that I have a limited time in which to make my mark.” And with her new found drive, we know she will.