[1][2][3][4] Rugaard was born in Copenhagen to a Danish father and a Northern Irish mother.

[5] Rugaard made her film debut in the 2013 Danish movie Min søsters børn i Afrika (My sister's kids in Africa [da]).

[2] Prior to this, she was known for singing the Danish theme song to Violetta for the Disney Channel.

[6] Since her acting debut, she has appeared in the television series The Lodge and Still Star-Crossed, and multiple films, including Good Favour, Teen Spirit, and I Am Mother.

[2][7] Rugaard stars opposite Lewis Pullman, Danny Glover, and Lyrica Okano in the American film Press Play, directed by Greg Björkman.