Marjorie "Marj" Brasch (also 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, as part of the show's 20th anniversary in May 2012 and again for the show's 25th anniversary in 2017.

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, in 2012 to support Rachel McKenna (Angela Bloomfield), and in 2017 for her onscreen death. 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, being named as the most iconic character to feature on the soap of all time.

One of the goals of creating Shortland Street, was to have strong women as primary characters to counter stereotype the weak and vulnerable women that were often portrayed in dramas at the time. Marj was written as one of the characters to fulfill this role, presenting a strong front at the clinic reception. A family unit was also required for key audience targets, leading to Marj being established with a husband and two children. Elizabeth McRae was cast in the role and was delivered an initial 30 scripts in February 1992, being sceptical that the show would last over a year due to curiosity over 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'." Several months into the shows run, the character of Marj's son – Stuart (Martin Henderson) was rewritten to be religious rather than gay in a bid to maintain a heterosexual "heart-throb" for teenage audiences; Marj was also rewritten to emphasise her Catholic nature. She was given another two sons because of this. Henderson was at first "intimidated" acting alongside his screen mother but learned from her acting and professional abilities. Marj made her debut on the shows first ever episode and even spoke the first ever line: "Shortland Street Accident and Emergency Centre!" McRae soon found herself a mentor for the young actors. 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 15 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), but ruled out returning full-time to the soap. 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. McRae reprised her role for the 25th anniversary in May 2017, for a storyline that saw Marj die. McRae described the scenes as "surreal".

Working behind the front desk at Shortland Street clinic since its inception, Marj was introduced as a gossip-fueled face of the reception. She and her husband Tom (Adrian Keeling) were horrified when their teenage son Stuart (Martin Henderson) claimed that he was the father of a baby that had been delivered. It was quickly revealed that Stuart's eldest brother Darryl (Mark Ferguson) was the real father, though Marj never discovered this, Tom had his suspicions. Causing controversy within the clinic by ostracising Jaki Manu (Nancy Brunning) due to an HIV scare, and speculating on Meredith (Stephanie Wilkin) and Hone (Temuera Morrison) dating despite being in relationships, the staff realised Marj was an efficient way to spread information to their colleagues. Marj reported Tom to officials for sleep problems that resulted in a near-crash, leading to the marriage to end. Devastated, she suspected Tom was having an affair with Irene Raynor (Jan Saussey) but when this turned out to be a brief flirtation, and Tom was returned to work, they reconciled and she nursed Tom through his health scares. In late 1992, Marj's illegitimate daughter Jane (Katherine McRae) who she adopted out at birth, made contact, infuriating Tom that the lie had been kept for 30 years. He fled Ferndale and an upset Marj began to date policeman Laurie (Chic Littlewood).

Marj and Laurie spent months tracking Tom or a body, to no avail. As 1993 ended he returned having spent time in a cult but succumbed to a heart attack. In her grief Marj reunited with Laurie and moved to his farm. After a scare where Marj was accidentally poisoned by rural chemicals, they realised their love and married in 1994. The two became foster parents to Lulu Chatfield (Meighan Desmond) and Marj was devastated when her son Darryl drowned. Behind the reception desk Marj saw the reality of the Ferndale community, recognising the poor services in town. Much to the amusement of her colleagues she put herself forward to be a city councilor, shocking them all when she won. Advocating for the community whilst still working part-time behind the desk, Marj fell into political scandal when she funded Nick's (Karl Burnett) dodgy cleaning materials business. Soon after, a vacancy opened in the area for the 1996 general election; Marj ran and won the majority vote to sit for Ferndale in the New Zealand parliament, quitting Shortland Street.

Several years later, Marj returned to Ferndale and hired best friend – Jenny Harrison (Maggie Harper) as her personal assistant. She attended the funeral for Tiffany Marinovich (Alison James) before she and Jenny departed to Wellington.