Mandy McElhinney explains why she can never get away from her character ‘Rhonda’ from AAMI adverts

Mandy McElhinney may well be best known for appearing in a much loved series of insurance adverts that aired over a decade ago. 

Back in 2012, Mandy and actor Kadek Mahardika portrayed Rhonda and Ketut in the famous AAMI commercials.

The Rhonda and Ketut adverts first appeared to promote AAMI’s safe driver insurance.

In the series of ads, Rhonda meets her younger lover while on holiday in Bali, before their summer fling becomes a long-term relationship.

Mandy, 52, admits she will never quite escape the role or Rhonda, but she understands why. 

Mandy McElhinney (pictured) may well be best known for appearing in a much loved series of insurance adverts that aired over a decade ago

‘Some people recognise me straight away, and it’s always very funny exchange,’ she told The Daily Telegraph this week. 

‘People have very fond memories of that relationship and that time’ the Halifax: Retribution star went on. 

‘There was something incredibly sweet about her, her lack of pretence, her open heartedness, and her desire for love.

‘I think people want good things to happen to good people, and I think that was what she represented.’

Mandy recently told TV Week, she almost gave up on acting after filming season one of Wakefield in 2021.

Back in 2012, Mandy and actor Kadek Mahardika portrayed Rhonda and Ketut in the famous AAMI commercials (pictured) 

‘Some people recognise me straight away, and it’s always very funny exchange,’ she said 

‘A lot of us thought it was going to go again [for season two] but they couldn’t bring it back unfortunately,’ she explained.

‘A lot of my colleagues have left the industry, I was pretty close to doing that myself.’

Mandy said co-writing and starring in recent theatre show Dirty Birds with her sister Hayley ‘saved her’.

‘This project with Hayley saved me in a way because we could figure out what stories we wanted to tell.’

She continued: ‘I don’t have control over my career at all. All I can do is be grateful for the opportunities that come along.’

Mandy is also known for her roles in television shows including Love Child and Bad Mothers, as well as recently appearing on Home And Away.

Mandy is also known for her roles in television shows including Love Child and Bad Mothers, as well as recently appearing on Home And Away