Marj Brasch
Encyclopedia
Marjorie "Marj" Brasch is a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
Shortland Street
. Being part of the original cast, she was portrayed by Elizabeth McRae
from the show's first season in 1992 up until 1996. She returned as a guest character in both 1998 and 2002. She has since become iconic as the first ever receptionist.
Matriarch of the original family unit, the Neilsons, Marj often found herself fighting for her family and religious beliefs. The character had four sons, Patrick (Uncredited), Damien (Mark Ferguson
), the villainous Darryl
(Mark Ferguson) and Stuart
(Martin Henderson
), alongside a daughter Jane (Katherine McRae). Originally married to Tom
(Adiran Keeling), Marj soon became a widow and married boyfriend Laure Brasch (Chic Littlewood) before leaving the show in 1996, to become a politician. She returned briefly in 2002 to attend good friend Nick
's (Karl Burnett
) wedding.
The character was used largely for comedic scenes but as she developed, she was also used for dramatic effect, with numerous storylines being fronted by Marj. She was hugely popular and iconic, being named as the most iconic character to feature on the soap of all time.
, quit the role in 1996 and producers decided to write her out in a storyline where she became a politician. They saw this as a fun and unusual write out for a deserving fan favourite character.
(Adrian Keeling) working as a paramedic. Marj was shocked when she learnt son Stuart
(Martin Henderson
) may have fathered a child, but was relieved when she learned otherwise. In late 1992, Marj's illegitimate daughter Jane (Katherine McRae) who she adopted out at birth, made contact, infuriating Tom.
The presence of Jane led Tom to run away from the marriage in 1993, deeply upsetting Marj who sold the house and soon started to date Jewish policeman Laurie (Chic Littlewood). Marj got several leads on Tom's disappearance but finds nothing. Tom eventually showed up in November and received a kidney from son Darryl
(Mark Ferguson
), but died from a heart attack shortly afterwards. Marj reunited with Laurie.
In 1994 Marj nearly died at the hands of Laurie, when he accidentally exposed her to dangerous chemicals. The two got over the small bump and later marry. In 1995 the two became foster parents to Stuart's friend Lulu (Meighan Desmond
) and Marj was devastated when Darryl died in a drowning accident.
In 1996 Marj, bored of her job at Shortland Street applied for a job in Parliament. To her surprise she got it. She and Laurie moved to Wellington and she was welcomed to The Beehive by future prime ministers
Helen Clark
and Jenny Shipley
. In 1998 Jenny (Maggie Harper), unhappy with the health system, was pleased to see Marj visiting Ferndale. Marj offered Jenny a position as her Personal Assistant to which Jenny accepted and moved down to Wellington.
Marj returned in 2002 alongside Jenny, when they attended Nick
's (Karl Burnett
) wedding to Waverley (Claire Chitham
). Marj was shocked when Jenny retired and she offered Rachel McKenna
(Angela Bloomfield
) the job, to which Rachel declined. Marj left shortly thereafter.
who she fears has AIDS.
.
voted Marj as the best character to ever appear on the show noting her multiple levels of characterisation and interesting storylines.A reviewer in 1992 enjoyed the character, saying the reception desk was; "about the only place where the makers of Shortland Street have got it right".
Viewers initially did not warm to the Marj character, but after the character was written to have "a bit of comedy and a bit of warmth", she instantly became a fan favourite. McRae herself stated that playing Marj was a highlight of her 50 year long career, stating; "It was quite a privilege to be in that initial cast because it was a breakthrough that there was at last a New Zealand soap opera that wasn't full of Australians or Americans or English."
. The pairing of the motherly Marj and clumsy Waverley Wilson soon also became an achertype, being followed by numerous replicas including Moria and Waverley, Babara and Waverley, Yvonne and Claire and Yvonne and Bella
.
When Amelia Reid was cast in the role of Bella in 2010, she compared her relationship with Yvonne to that of the iconic Marj and Waverleys.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. Being part of the original cast, she was portrayed by Elizabeth McRae
Elizabeth McRae
Elizabeth McRae is a New Zealand actress, best known for her portrayal of Marjorie Brasch on the soap opera Shortland Street from 1992 until 1996 with further appearances in 1998 and 2002.Elizabeth's daughter Katherine is also an actress...
from the show's first season in 1992 up until 1996. She returned as a guest character in both 1998 and 2002. She has since become iconic as the first ever receptionist.
Matriarch of the original family unit, the Neilsons, Marj often found herself fighting for her family and religious beliefs. The character had four sons, Patrick (Uncredited), Damien (Mark Ferguson
Mark Ferguson
Mark Ferguson is a New Zealand-based Australian actor and television presenter.-Biography:Ferguson was born in Sydney, Australia, in family of Scottish ancestry . He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art and graduated in 1981...
), the villainous Darryl
Darryl Neilson
Darryl Neilson is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Darryl was portrayed by Mark Ferguson from 1992 to the characters death in 1995....
(Mark Ferguson) and Stuart
Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Martin Henderson and was part of the original cast, with a lot of the first episode focusing around him....
(Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson is a New Zealand actor, well known to American audiences for his starring role in the ABC TV series Off the Map, while remaining known in his home country for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera Shortland Street.-Life and career:Henderson was born in Auckland, New...
), alongside a daughter Jane (Katherine McRae). Originally married to Tom
Tom Neilson
Tom Leslie Neilson is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Part of the original cast, Tom was portrayed by Adrian Keeling from the shows first episode up until May the following year when the character starred in a high profile storyline where Tom went missing...
(Adiran Keeling), Marj soon became a widow and married boyfriend Laure Brasch (Chic Littlewood) before leaving the show in 1996, to become a politician. She returned briefly in 2002 to attend good friend Nick
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
's (Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett is a New Zealand actor born 27 February 1976 best known for his portrayal of Nick Harrison on the long-running New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He was 16 years old when offered the role of Nick Harrison on the popular New Zealand soap Shortland Street in 1992...
) wedding.
The character was used largely for comedic scenes but as she developed, she was also used for dramatic effect, with numerous storylines being fronted by Marj. She was hugely popular and iconic, being named as the most iconic character to feature on the soap of all time.
Creation and casting
One of the goals of the goals of creating Shortland Street, was to have strong powerful women as primary characters to counter stereotype the weak and vulnerable women often portrayed in dramas. Marj was created as one of the characters to fulfill this role. Marj's portrayer, Elizabeth McRaeElizabeth McRae
Elizabeth McRae is a New Zealand actress, best known for her portrayal of Marjorie Brasch on the soap opera Shortland Street from 1992 until 1996 with further appearances in 1998 and 2002.Elizabeth's daughter Katherine is also an actress...
, quit the role in 1996 and producers decided to write her out in a storyline where she became a politician. They saw this as a fun and unusual write out for a deserving fan favourite character.
1992-2002
The receptionist behind the desk at Shortland Street since its opening in 1989, Marj was shown to be heavily involved with the clinic, with loving husband TomTom Neilson
Tom Leslie Neilson is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Part of the original cast, Tom was portrayed by Adrian Keeling from the shows first episode up until May the following year when the character starred in a high profile storyline where Tom went missing...
(Adrian Keeling) working as a paramedic. Marj was shocked when she learnt son Stuart
Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Martin Henderson and was part of the original cast, with a lot of the first episode focusing around him....
(Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson is a New Zealand actor, well known to American audiences for his starring role in the ABC TV series Off the Map, while remaining known in his home country for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera Shortland Street.-Life and career:Henderson was born in Auckland, New...
) may have fathered a child, but was relieved when she learned otherwise. In late 1992, Marj's illegitimate daughter Jane (Katherine McRae) who she adopted out at birth, made contact, infuriating Tom.
The presence of Jane led Tom to run away from the marriage in 1993, deeply upsetting Marj who sold the house and soon started to date Jewish policeman Laurie (Chic Littlewood). Marj got several leads on Tom's disappearance but finds nothing. Tom eventually showed up in November and received a kidney from son Darryl
Darryl Neilson
Darryl Neilson is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Darryl was portrayed by Mark Ferguson from 1992 to the characters death in 1995....
(Mark Ferguson
Mark Ferguson
Mark Ferguson is a New Zealand-based Australian actor and television presenter.-Biography:Ferguson was born in Sydney, Australia, in family of Scottish ancestry . He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art and graduated in 1981...
), but died from a heart attack shortly afterwards. Marj reunited with Laurie.
In 1994 Marj nearly died at the hands of Laurie, when he accidentally exposed her to dangerous chemicals. The two got over the small bump and later marry. In 1995 the two became foster parents to Stuart's friend Lulu (Meighan Desmond
Meighan Desmond
Meighan Desmond is an actress, best known by her role as the Greek goddess Discord on the popular American TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and on its two spin-offs – Xena: Warrior Princess and Young Hercules.Desmond also worked as a personal assistant to Ted Raimi during his final...
) and Marj was devastated when Darryl died in a drowning accident.
In 1996 Marj, bored of her job at Shortland Street applied for a job in Parliament. To her surprise she got it. She and Laurie moved to Wellington and she was welcomed to The Beehive by future prime ministers
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
and Jenny Shipley
Jenny Shipley
Dame Jenny Shipley, DNZM , served as the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999, the first woman to hold this office and the first, and to date only, woman to serve as parliamentary leader of the National Party of New Zealand.-Early life:Shipley was born as Jennifer...
. In 1998 Jenny (Maggie Harper), unhappy with the health system, was pleased to see Marj visiting Ferndale. Marj offered Jenny a position as her Personal Assistant to which Jenny accepted and moved down to Wellington.
Marj returned in 2002 alongside Jenny, when they attended Nick
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
's (Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett is a New Zealand actor born 27 February 1976 best known for his portrayal of Nick Harrison on the long-running New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He was 16 years old when offered the role of Nick Harrison on the popular New Zealand soap Shortland Street in 1992...
) wedding to Waverley (Claire Chitham
Claire Chitham
Claire Margaret Chitham is a New Zealand television actress. She is best known for having played Waverley Harrison in the New Zealand TV show Shortland Street, from 1994–5 and 1997–2005 and Aurora Bay in Outrageous Fortune from 2006-2007.She was already acting by the age of nine, when she...
). Marj was shocked when Jenny retired and she offered Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Angela Bloomfield. Rachel first appeared on the show from 1993 to 1999. Then from 2001 to 2003. Rachel then made a very brief appearance in 2007 before returning as a core cast member in October 2009...
(Angela Bloomfield
Angela Bloomfield
-Career:She starred in Shortland Street for nine years, transforming Rachel McKenna from the school girl daughter of clinic boss into a university student, bar manager and later, a Shortland Street clinic employee....
) the job, to which Rachel declined. Marj left shortly thereafter.
Characterisation
Instantly upon introduction, Marj is shown to be a stern Catholic mother busybody, who loves to gossip and cares deeply for her family. She has been described as "bossy, opinionated, a terrible gossip. She was everyone's favourite Aunt, with the flapping mouth and the big heart." The character does not mind saying what she thinks, including in 1992 when she is openly hostile towards Jaki ManuJaki Manu
Jaki Manu was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Nancy Brunning and was part of the original cast.-1992-1994:...
who she fears has AIDS.
Comic Relief
Marj was primary comic relief in her initial storylines, so writers decided to introduce drama to the character so that the audience could connect and to further develop the character. This included the storyline where husband Tom went missing and the introduction of Marj's menacing anatagonistic son, DarrylDarryl Neilson
Darryl Neilson is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Darryl was portrayed by Mark Ferguson from 1992 to the characters death in 1995....
.
Reception
To honour the shows 10th anniversary in May 2002, Michelle Hewitson of The New Zealand HeraldThe New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
voted Marj as the best character to ever appear on the show noting her multiple levels of characterisation and interesting storylines.A reviewer in 1992 enjoyed the character, saying the reception desk was; "about the only place where the makers of Shortland Street have got it right".
Viewers initially did not warm to the Marj character, but after the character was written to have "a bit of comedy and a bit of warmth", she instantly became a fan favourite. McRae herself stated that playing Marj was a highlight of her 50 year long career, stating; "It was quite a privilege to be in that initial cast because it was a breakthrough that there was at last a New Zealand soap opera that wasn't full of Australians or Americans or English."
Impact
Following the success of Marj's characterization in the original cast, the character became iconic and a archetype for later characters to come. Her motherly nature alongside her occupation and love of gossip, saw the character followed by numerous other similar characters that were equally as popular, including; Moira, Babara and YvonneYvonne Jeffries
Yvonne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is the mother of Maia, Libby, Hamish and Tania Jeffries...
. The pairing of the motherly Marj and clumsy Waverley Wilson soon also became an achertype, being followed by numerous replicas including Moria and Waverley, Babara and Waverley, Yvonne and Claire and Yvonne and Bella
Bella Cooper
Isabella "Bella" Cooper is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She has been portrayed by Amelia Reid since her arrival in September 2010 as the oldest sibling in the Cooper family unit.-Introduction:...
.
When Amelia Reid was cast in the role of Bella in 2010, she compared her relationship with Yvonne to that of the iconic Marj and Waverleys.