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Marjorie "Marj" Brasch (previously Neilson) 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 1998, 2002 and as part of the show's 20th anniversary in May 2012. Matriarch of the original family unit – the Neilsons, Marj was the mother of four sons; Patrick (Uncredited), Damien (Mark Ferguson), the villainous Darryl (Mark Ferguson) and Stuart (Martin Henderson) alongside a daughter Jane (Katherine McRae). She was staunchly Catholic and often found herself fighting for her beliefs and her family. The character also resonated the archetypical soap opera gossip, something which McRae suggested was integral to the show. Originally married to Tom (Adrian Keeling), Marj soon became a widow and married boyfriend Laurie Brasch (Chic Littlewood) before leaving the show in 1996, to become a politician. She returned in 1998 to aide in the exit of Jenny Harrison (Maggie Harper), briefly in 2002 to attend good friend Nick's (Karl Burnett) wedding and in 2012 to support Rachel McKenna (Angela Bloomfield). Throughout Marj's run, she maintained several long lasting character relationships, primarily with; Jenny Harrison, Kirsty Knight (Angela Dotchin) and Rachel McKenna, some of which have had on-lasting effects on archetypical character moulds. 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 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.〔 A family unit was needed to pull in a broader audience and so Marj was written with a husband and two children.〔 Elizabeth McRae was cast in the role and was delivered an initial 30 scripts in February 1992. McRae was skeptical the show would last over a year and was curious how her character could develop over such a long period.〔 She went on to realise the writers craft, stating; "You learn quite quickly that your character can do - anything. You never go up to the writer's and go; 'My character wouldn't do so and so'."〔 When the character of Marj's son – Stuart (Martin Henderson) was forcibly rewritten to be religious rather than gay, Marj was also rewritten to emphasize her Catholic nature. She was given another two sons because of this.〔 Marj made her debut on the shows first ever episode and even spoke the first ever line: "Shortland Street Accident and Emergency Centre!" After the show and the character gained popularity, McRae began to worry that she might not be cast as anything else and decided to quit.〔 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.〔 Marj made her last appearance as a regular character on 1 July 1996. McRae agreed to reprise the role in 1998 as part of the exit storyline for the character of Marj's best friend Jenny Harrison (Maggie Harper).〔 McRae returned in another guest role in 2002. It was confirmed in May 2012 that Marj would be returning to mark the show's 20th anniversary. Producers decided to bring Marj back after the return of another former receptionist – Yvonne Jeffries (Alison Quigan), with producer Steven Zanoski stating: "With the return of Yvonne to the reception desk it was only a matter of course to have Marj back."〔 Marj's return scenes were directed by McRae's daughter Katherine, who stated; "It was very funny. I thought; 'Should I call her mum?' But as soon as we got on the studio floor Marj popped straight back out. It was instant." McRae enjoyed returning to the character of Marj saying; "They are very well written scenes. They did me proud."〔 She made her single episode reappearance on 25 May 2012. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Marj Brasch」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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