The film Erin Brockovich is based on the true story of single mother Erin Brockovich, who took on a major corporation over water contamination. The movie even includes a cameo by the real Erin, who appears at the beginning as a waitress. In the same scene, viewers can also see the real attorney Ed Masry. Brockovich later admitted that taking part in the filming was a very emotional and almost surreal experience for her.
According to Erin, the film was almost completely accurate, although some details were changed. For example, the movie hints that she may have used her appearance to influence people, but in real life she denied this, stressing that her only concern was helping the victims. The film also incorrectly stated that she had won the Miss Wichita pageant, when in fact her title was Miss Pacific Coast. Erin’s only joking complaint about the movie was that Julia Roberts’ skirts were not short enough.
Another important part of the story is George, the character played by Aaron Eckhart. He was based on Erin’s real-life boyfriend, Jorge Halaby. Erin said he supported her during a very difficult period, loved her children, and even worked as their nanny while she focused on the case. Brockovich later revealed that Jorge died after suffering from a brain tumor.
The article also highlights the film’s huge success. Julia Roberts was paid $20 million for the role, becoming the first woman in Hollywood to earn that amount for a single film. She later won the Academy Award for Best Actress, although she forgot to mention the real Erin in her acceptance speech. The movie itself was also a box-office hit: made on a $52 million budget, it earned more than $250 million worldwide, while Brockovich sold the rights to her story for $100,000.
The article also mentions a few small but interesting facts: Albert Finney initially turned down the role of Ed Masry, but was eventually persuaded to return; in one scene, a child accidentally calls George by the actor’s real name, Aaron; and in another, a board game appears that was released later than the time period in which the film takes place. Details like these make the story even more interesting for fans of the movie.
