You know, every now and then, Hollywood creates one of those movies that feels timeless, and Erin Brockovich is definitely one of those films.
But there’s a lot more to it than what we saw in the final cut—there are scenes and lesser-known facts that really enhance the story.
Julia Roberts completely nailed her part in Erin Brockovich. Honestly, it’s one of the best films I’ve ever watched; there are no flashy special effects, just amazing acting and a story that really resonates. It’s based on the true story of Erin Brockovich, a single mother who stood up to a big corporation over water pollution, and Roberts portrays her in a way that feels so genuine and motivating.
Truly, it’s a classic—something I’d prefer to watch again over most of the newer films that are coming out these days.
And while Erin Brockovich is a true masterpiece, it also has its quirky moments and fun behind-the-scenes stories! Here are some amusing facts, errors, and hidden truths you might not know about the movie:
The real Erin Brockovich’s cameo.
One of the coolest surprises in Erin Brockovich is the waitress at the very start of the film—and it’s not just any actress. It’s the real Erin Brockovich herself! Yep, you heard that right. The real Erin makes a cameo as a blonde waitress when Julia Roberts and her kids visit a snack restaurant.
How awesome is that? It was actually part of the movie’s agreement that she would have this special moment in the film, giving a nice tribute to the woman whose story the movie is based on.
An out-of-body experience
When Erin Brockovich arrived on the movie set for her cameo, it felt like she was entering a whole new world. Acting as a waitress named Julia while Julia Roberts was just a few feet away seemed unreal. “It was like an out-of-body experience,” she later said. Since she was used to fighting in courtrooms instead of in front of a camera, the thought of acting made her feel really anxious.
“I couldn’t wrap my head around it,” she shared with Fox. The thrill of being part of the film was clear, but so was the stress.
Erin didn’t want to mess things up, especially in front of a big star like Roberts. “I don’t like to get ahead of myself, but I was nervous. Really nervous.”
Did you catch another hidden cameo?
While a lot of fans know that Erin Brockovich herself has a cameo in the movie, there’s something not many people know: her real lawyer, Ed Masry, is also in it.
In the same diner scene where Erin is working as a waitress, you can actually see the real Ed Masry — played by Albert Finney in the film — sitting in the background.
Erin Brockovich’s cleavage
The real Erin Brockovich-Ellis once said that the movie was about 98-99% true to life.
But even though the film does a fantastic job of telling Erin’s story, there are a few details they missed. For instance, the real Erin Brockovich-Ellis mentioned that while her cleavage might have drawn some attention, she never meant to use her looks to manipulate anyone, which is what the movie implies.
Despite the focus on her looks and how she spoke, the true Erin kept her attention on what was really important — the people suffering from toxic pollution.
“I heard a lot of talk about, you know, my chest, my outfit, the way I talk, and all that. I didn’t have time for it. People were harmed, and they did it and they know it. So yeah, leave me alone. That was really my point of view,” she shared with Vulture.
The truth about her breast implants
The real Erin Brockovich has always been open about her challenges, from dealing with dyslexia as a child and struggling with anorexia as an adult to facing the self-doubt that made her decide to get breast implants during her second unhappy marriage.
Looking back on that choice, she’s refreshingly straightforward and has no regrets: “I thought the best way to feel better about myself would be to get my chest lifted… and trust me, it worked.”
The mix-up with Miss Pacific Coast
In the film, Erin Brockovich is said to have won the title of Miss Wichita, but in reality, she actually held the title of Miss Pacific Coast.
Erin herself pointed out this little mistake, laughing about it while thinking back on her choice to leave the beauty pageant scene, which she found “shallow.”
While filming Erin Brockovich, Julia Roberts wore outfits that became iconic — think tight skirts and those striking high heels that perfectly showed off the real Erin’s bold yet glamorous style.
Erin Brockovich’s one complaint about the movie
Before the movie came out, Erin Brockovich and Julia Roberts had a chat where Erin joked that Julia’s skirts in the film were too long.
This funny comment was later backed up by the director, Steven Soderbergh. He said, “When Erin watched the movie,” he explained, “she mentioned, ‘The only thing that wasn’t right is that the skirts weren’t short enough.’”
Julia Roberts’ wardrobe Journey in Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts might have delivered an Oscar-winning performance in Erin Brockovich, but wearing the real-life activist’s bold outfits was not easy. Even though Roberts knew the outfits were historically accurate, she was initially concerned they might seem too flashy for the film.
“When you take someone who — by my modest, conservative standards of dressing — is so visually provocative,” Roberts explained, “you don’t want it to feel like a movie gimmick. ‘Oh, we hired someone with really long legs, so let’s give her the shortest skirts known to mankind.’ You want it to feel as natural to her as her hair or voice or anything else.”
Once Roberts understood how important Erin’s clothing was to her character, she took on the challenge.
However, getting used to the outfits (or lack of them) wasn’t exactly easy. “I have something in my closet that I would call a ‘dress.’ Erin has something in her closet I call a ‘dre,’” Roberts joked. “The whole ‘ess’ part that covers your butt isn’t there.”
Even the film crew needed time to get used to her on-screen look. Roberts remembered, “I’d show up to practice in my T-shirt and sweatpants and flip-flops, and everyone was fine. Then I’d come on set to film [in my costumes], and everyone on the crew would be like, ‘What happened?’ But once we all got used to it, it was okay.
Did Erin Brockovich really date George?
The character of George, the biker boyfriend played by Aaron Eckhart, was inspired by Erin Brockovich-Ellis’s real-life Mexican-American boyfriend, Jorge Halaby.
Erin met the long-haired, Harley-riding biker in the early 1990s, shortly after her second divorce, when she was just 25 years old.
“He picked me up when I was going through a tough time and cared for my kids. He always knew how to make me laugh. Plus, he really believed in me. Jorge was amazing. Yeah, he wore those bracelets and had a ponytail. Wow, he was super handsome. Oh man, his hair was just gorgeous. And Aaron Eckhart was also really good looking. He did an awesome job,” Erin said.
Even though Erin and Jorge broke up during her personal journey, he still played a big role in her life. Actually, Jorge became a full-time live-in nanny for Erin’s kids. This was arranged by the law firm she worked with, who recognized how tough her case was and wanted to help her out.
Erin Brockovich couldn’t help but chuckle about Aaron Eckhart being cast as George, saying if the real Jorge had looked like that, she would have never let him go. Their real-life relationship might not have been as glamorous as in Hollywood, but it was just as fun and special as the movie showed.
The real George had a brain tumor and passed away.
In a 2020 interview with Vulture, Erin Brockovich shared a very personal and sad story about Jorge, the man who meant so much to her and her kids.
Jorge died after fighting a brain tumor.
“Jorge and I, right when the film came out, weren’t together. Jorge had a brain tumor and there were a lot of things happening that I don’t think many of us understood. Jorge was a really special guy, and he was fantastic with my kids,” she said.
Albert Finney initially turned down the film
Albert Finney added a special charm and seriousness to Erin Brockovich, making Ed Masry one of the film’s favorite characters. He didn’t outshine Julia Roberts but still delivered a performance that was both funny and lovable. The connection between Finney and Roberts was like magic, showing how great the casting team was.
Finney’s role as Ed was a perfect example of subtle greatness, showing the same commitment he had in all his roles. From his perfect American accent to the humor and realness he brought to every scene, it was obvious why he was one of the best actors of the 20th century. Whether he was playing Poirot, Daddy Warbucks, or Ed Masry, Finney’s performances were always filled with charm, humor, and sometimes a bit of malice when it was needed.
However, many fans might not realize that Finney actually declined the role at first. It was Danny DeVito, one of the producers of the film, who stepped in to help. DeVito persuaded Finney’s girlfriend to talk him into reconsidering, even offering to rearrange all of his scenes to be filmed closer together so that Finney wouldn’t have to stay in Los Angeles for too long. Luckily, this plan worked, and Finney’s acting became one of the best parts of the movie, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest talents in cinema.
Julia Roberts’ earnings in Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts didn’t just shine in the film — she made history in Hollywood! For her leading role, Roberts received an incredible $20 million paycheck, making her the first woman to break that salary record.
That was an astonishing amount back then, but honestly — after seeing her amazing performance as the feisty and determined Erin, we all agree she was worth every cent.
Julia Roberts made a big mistake during her speech
Even though Julia Roberts won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Erin Brockovich, her acceptance speech became a bit awkward.
In her excitement, she totally forgot to thank the real Erin Brockovich-Ellis! Oops! Later, Roberts laughed about the mistake, joking, “It doesn’t bring out the Albert Einstein moment that you hoped it would.”
Money, money, money…
The real Erin Brockovich-Ellis sold her amazing story rights for a whopping $100,000, and the movie became a huge success! With a budget of $52 million, Erin Brockovich went on to earn over $250 million globally.
It had a fantastic opening weekend, making $28.1 million in 2,848 theaters, which was the second-highest March opening at that time, right after Liar Liar. It was also Julia Roberts’ second-largest opening weekend, just behind Runaway Bride! What a financial success!
“What a silly name for a movie”
During the wrap party, everyone was discussing what to name the film, which had been called ”Erin Brockovich” while they were making it.
Curious, the real Erin asked director Steven Soderbergh what they were going to call it, and he simply replied, “Erin Brockovich.” Erin’s response? “Shit!”
”At that moment, I thought, Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no because everyone was saying, “What a silly name for a movie.” That made me feel really nervous,” Erin explained.
A sneaky reference to Aaron Eckhart
About 23 minutes into Erin Brockovich, there’s a little but funny mistake.
After the kids finish playing cards with George, the son says, “Good night, Aaron,” accidentally calling George by the actor’s real name, Aaron Eckhart.
Did you spot the timeline slip?
If you have a sharp eye, you might catch a fun detail in a scene with George and Erin’s kids. At around 1 hour 7 minutes, they’re playing Monopoly: Harley-Davidson Authorized Edition — but here’s the kicker: the game wasn’t released until 1997, a couple of years after the movie’s setting!
A little slip-up in the timeline, but it’s one of those fun movie moments to spot.
Erin Brockovich’s favorite scene in the movie
When she was asked about her favorite parts in the movie, Erin Brockovich quickly talked about how much she enjoyed some of the funniest scenes. “They’re called boobs, Ed,” she said while laughing. “I thought that was so funny. It was a really smart line.”
Another memorable moment for her? The daring and surprising line, ‘I’m exhausted, actually. I just gave 634 blow jobs.’
She laughed and said, “I’m sorry, but that was hilarious. It was so outrageous, and Julia nailed it perfectly.” These moments really showed off her sharp, unapologetic sense of humor, which is a big part of her real-life character.
After the film became a huge hit, the real Erin Brockovich has kept the movie’s story alive in the media.
Julia Roberts had never known Erin’s story.
On the other hand, the actress who worked hard in front of the camera, Julia Roberts, has stayed a bit more low-key. This is kind of surprising, especially since the film changed Julia’s life too. It won her her first Oscar — a huge milestone that not many actresses achieve.
So, what has Julia shared about her time with the film?
For starters, she mentioned that she had never heard about the PG&E scandal before she took on the role.
Julia also shared how much she enjoyed playing the character: “It’s such interesting material because you have someone who is the most unlikely heroine who is also fabulous and kind of larger than life and full of energy and amazing and talks like a sailor and all these great things to portray.”
Erin Brockovich today
Nowadays, Erin Brockovich is not just a well-known name but also a lively media figure, continuing her mission to seek justice for those in need. She hosts the TV show Challenge America with Erin Brockovich on ABC and Final Justice on Zone Reality, motivating others with her dedication to overcoming challenges.
In addition to her media work, Erin is the president of Brockovich Research & Consulting, where she assists people affected by environmental problems.
She also serves as a consultant for the prestigious New York law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, specializing in personal injury claims related to asbestos exposure, and works with Shine Lawyers in Australia.
As per 2024, Erin Brockovich lives in Agoura Hills, California, in a home she bought in 1996 with the $2.5 million bonus she received following the Hinkley settlement.
Erin Brockovich husband
Erin was first married to Shawn Brown, but that marriage ended in divorce. Later, she married Steven Brockovich, and they had a daughter named Beth.
After they separated, Erin married her third husband, who is an actor and country musician named Eric L. Ellis.
Erin Brockovich has kids too!
Besides her work achievements, Erin is a loving mom to three kids: a son named Matthew and a daughter named Katie from her first marriage to Shawn Brown, and another daughter named Elizabeth, or Beth, from her second marriage to Steven Brockovich.
Erin Brockovich’s story is as daring as her personality!
The movie showed her stylish outfits and strong words, but Erin’s real impact comes from her tireless fight for the truth for those who really needed help.
So, the next time you watch Erin Brockovich, keep in mind that it’s not just about her outfits or funny quotes, but about a woman who stood her ground, showing that sometimes, the best strength is just being yourself.
