Rhonda Doyle is an Australian actress, appearing in film, TV and theatre, best known for having played Jan in the advertisement for Yellow Pages with the line "Not happy, Jan!"
Early life Doyle attended Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), graduating in 1989. She appeared in their third year production of Joking Apart, and their 1989 graduating production of Restoration.
Career Doyle's early stage roles following her graduation from drama school included a touring production of Wendy Harmer's Backstage Pass in 1990, Pest House at NIDA Parade Theatre in 1991 and Sometimes I Wish I Was Jana Wendt at Harold Park Hotel in 1992.
Doyle was a main cast member in 1998 children's TV series Misery Guts, based on the Morris Gleitzman books, playing the role of Marge Shipley.
Doyle became known for her role as Jan in the iconic television advertisement for Yellow Pages, which first aired in 2000. The advertisement popularised the catch phrase "Not happy, Jan!", uttered by Jan's boss (played by Deborah Kennedy), which subsequently went on to become part of Australian cultural vernacular, used to express displeasure at a problem caused by negligence or incompetence.
She then played one of the leading roles of Tiffany Parker in 2001 SBS comedy-drama series Going Home. That same year, she also appeared in 2001 Fox Family TV movie When Good Ghouls Go Bad, playing Mrs Churney, alongside Christopher Lloyd. In 2003, Doyle featured in children's series Snobs, in the recurring role of Clarissa Bellingham. The following year she played the recurring role of Ali in drama series Fireflies and guested in an episode of ensemble drama series Love My Way.
In 2008, Doyle appeared in two feature films, including family adventure film Nim's Island, playing Edmund's mother Shirley, opposite Jodie Foster and Gerard Butler. She also appeared in comedy-drama film The View from Greenhaven, with Wendy Hughes. She was later seen in 2013 thriller Felony, alongside Joel Edgerton and Tom Wilkinson.
More recently, Doyle landed a recurring role in 2022 series The Tourist, playing Constable Carter alongside Jamie Dornan. In 2024, she then appeared in political drama series Total Control, starring Rachel Griffiths and Deborah Mailman.
Doyle has also made numerous guest appearances throughout her career, in series including A Country Practice, Home and Away, Cody, Water Rats, All Saints, Chandon Pictures, Rescue: Special Ops, My Place, Rake, Hiding, Cleverman and Harrow.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes Ref2008 Nim's Island Edmund's mother Shirley The View from Greenhaven Sylvia 2009 War Games Mum Short film 2012 Project Top Clown DaffyDil Short film 2013 The Misfortune of Others Vet's Wife Short film Felony Renya Denka Bursting! Slobby Neighbour Short film
Television Year Title Role Notes Ref 1991 A Country Practice Goldie Harper 2 episodes 1991; 2003; 2011 Home and Away Diane / Lesley / Mrs Daniels 3 episodes 1994 Cody: Bad Love Female Customs Officer TV movie 1996 Naked: Stories of Men Toy Woman 1 episode 1998 Children's Hospital Maureen Hawkins 1 episode Water Rats Becky Olejarnick 1 episode Misery Guts Marge Shipley 13 episodes;Main role 2001 Going Home Tiffany Parker 67 episodes;Main role When Good Ghouls Go Bad Mrs Churney TV movie 2001; 2004 All Saints Melissa Harris / Noeline Simpson 3 episodes 2003 Snobs Clarissa Bellingham 7 episodes Marking Time Aunt Holly Miniseries 2004 Fireflies Ali 12 episodes Love My Way Adele Rodger 1 episode 2009 Chandon Pictures Melanie 1 episode Rescue: Special Ops Madam 1 episode My Place Housewife 1 episode 2010 Rake Florist 1 episode 2015 Hiding JCF Administrator 1 episode 2016 Cleverman Secretary 1 episode 2020 Chan & Dee's Drink Tank Bettina Westfield-Rockbottom / Maggie Teepee Web miniseries 2021 Harrow Brenda Sallow 1 episode 2022 The Tourist Constable Carter 3 episodes 2024 Total Control Radiographer 1 episode 2026 Caper Crew Inner Tonk 1 episode Alantown Sandy In development
Theatre Year Title Role Notes Ref 1986 The Real Inspector Hound Mrs Drudge La Boite Theatre, Brisbane 1989 Major Barbara & Joking Apart NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney Restoration NIDA, Sydney 1990 Backstage Pass The Rocks Theatre, Sydney with Toe Truck Theatre 1991 Pest House NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney Steaming Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Regal Theatre, Perth, QPAC, Brisbane with Gary Penny Productions Sometimes I Wish I Was Jana Wendt Harold Park Hotel, Sydney with Stage Pulse 1994 Fire Down Under Crossroads Theatre, Sydney The Fire Raisers Crossroads Theatre, Sydney 2010 Catholic School Girls Glen St Theatre, Sydney, Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney 2015 Shivered Evie PACT Theatre, Sydney with Mad March Hare Theatre Co
References
External links
Rhonda Doyle at Lean Artists Collective