Amanda Brugel is in a cowboy bar in Hamilton when she gets hit by 12 gallons of fake blood. It’s an incident from the Guillermo del Toro-produced feature film Splice, due out in 2009. Brugel speaks glowingly of her time on set and the fun of working alongside such established actors as Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley. But it also makes one wonder if it might not have been a series of cumulative incidents like this that have inspired her to move into producing – something that she’s now actively engaged in with Toronto production company Screen Door.

Check out more sexy pics of Amanda

Like many a TORO Woman before her, Brugel studied dance at an early age and then later picked up acting. Still, it’s the prospect of moving into the role of producer that seems to have her most inspired these days. She speaks of not only wanting to tell stories but also of the desire to have the power to make a difference – particularly for women – in the Canadian entertainment industry.

With that goal in mind, she made a five-year plan a year ago and already she has a pilot ready to shoot. It was a project that just fell into her lap – a full four years earlier than she anticipated. Does she see it as a sign that she’s on the right path? “Well, I don’t want to sound all The Secret on you,” she says, "but I do."

Brugel recently visited the TORO studio for an exclusive photo shoot with Franco Deleo and answered this Q&A.

Q: What is the quality you like most in a man?
A: Sense of humour. I know that it’s so cliche and everyone says that but if you make me laugh I will love you, despite your club foot and your bad breath.

Q: The quality you like most in a woman?
A: Strength.

Q: What is your present state of mind?
A: A little flustered. I’m getting married in two months, and my sister is moving away to Banff, so a little flustered.

Q: What is your greatest extravagance?
A: My handbags. And lip gloss.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A: On the back of my door are my very first pair of ballet shoes, and the soles are worn, and they’re terribly old; and if a fire broke out they would be the one thing that I have to take.

Q: Which living person do you most admire?
A: My mother. But it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, you grow up and you realize that your parents are just people, and certainly not infallible at all. But then when I think of my mom’s life, and how she lived her life, and what she did for my sister and I, I think that she’s just a warrior.

Q: On what occasion do you lie?
A: When it comes to my friends and their choice in men. Or if it comes to my friends asking any love advice, period. And of course if something will hurt someone’s feelings.

Q: Which talent would you most like to have?
A: To be a singer.

Q: Other than your present occupation, what occupation would you like to try?
A: I’d like to be a child psychologist.

Q: In what country, other than this, would you like to live?
A: I would love to live in Cuba. I’ve been there 11 times; I’m getting married there. I believe my soul is still there. Specifically, a place called Cienfuego.

Q: What is your greatest fear?
A: Giving up. Or becoming safe.

Q:What trait do you deplore most in others?
A: Selfishness.

Q: What trait do you deplore most in yourself?
A: I can be quite judgmental.

Q: What is your greatest regret?
A: There were these really mean girls in high school and I regret not telling them off publicly.

Q: What director would you most like to work with?
A: I would love to work with M. Night. I really love the way, when he directs, that he doesn’t condescend to audiences and he allows people to come to their own conclusions. And I feel like he does that with his actors as well. I also love his love for research – he encourages his actors to keep journals and all that stuff; so M. Night Shyamalan. And also Paul Thomas Anderson.

Q: Who are your favourite actors?
A: Meryl Streep. I just saw Mama Mia and I don’t understand this woman; I think that she must be superhuman, how she gets even the smallest nuance of every character. And it’s humbling and inspiring at the same time. I love Philip Seymour Hoffman. I think he just chews the hell out of all the scenery that he’s in front of. I really, really love Cate Blanchett. She’s a chameleon. She’s never the same woman. And I think that she’s a thousand years old for all of the people that she’s able to pull out of her one being.

Q: Any recent good films you’ve seen?
A: Not recent ones. But I did see Roadhouse on the weekend. I hadn’t seen it before It was good! He does Tai Chi in the woods for like 11 minutes. That was good [laughs]. And “Mad Men” is fantastic. It’s a great show, I love the writing, the acting. It’s really smart and the pace is great; and it seems to capture the reality of that era.

Q: What is your motto?
A: Well, it’s tattooed on the back of my head [turns and reveals a tattoo of hieroglyphics on her neck and upper back]: “Light Up The Darkness.”

William Morassutti is the co-founder and Executive Producer of toromagazine.com. He was one of the founding members of TORO Magazine, where he served as both Editorial Director and Executive Director. Prior to joining TORO, he worked in Canadian broadcasting as a writer, producer, director, reporter and host.