**Hollywood now and then turns out movies that feel timeless, and *Erin Brockovich* definitely belongs in that category.**
**But there’s much more to it than what we see before the credits roll—scenes, stories and small details that add surprising layers to the tale.**
Julia Roberts absolutely nailed the title role in *Erin Brockovich*. Honestly, it’s one of the best films I’ve ever seen: no flashy CGI, just phenomenal performances and a story that hits you right in the gut. The movie is based on the real Erin Brockovich, a single mother who took on a giant utility company over poisoned drinking water, and Roberts made her feel painfully real and genuinely inspiring.
To be honest, it’s a modern classic—something I’d happily rewatch over most of the new releases that come out these days.
And even though *Erin Brockovich* is a powerhouse of a film, it’s also full of quirks, oddities and delightful backstage trivia.
**Here are some fun facts, mistakes and hidden truths you might not know about the movie:**
**Table of contents**
– The real Erin Brockovich’s cameo
– An out-of-body experience
– Did you catch the other secret cameo?
– Erin Brockovich’s famous cleavage
– The truth about her breast implants
– The “Miss Pacific Coast” mix-up
– Erin Brockovich’s only complaint about the movie
– Julia Roberts’ wardrobe journey into Erin Brockovich
– Did Erin Brockovich really date George?
– The real Jorge had a brain tumor and died
– Albert Finney initially turned the movie down
– Julia Roberts’ paycheck for *Erin Brockovich*
– The big mistake in Julia Roberts’ Oscar speech
– Money, money, money…
– “What a stupid title for a movie”
– A sneaky nod to Aaron Eckhart
– Did you spot the timeline error?
– Erin Brockovich’s favorite scene in the film
– Julia Roberts had never heard Erin’s story
– Erin Brockovich today
– Erin Brockovich’s husband
– Erin Brockovich’s children
**The real Erin Brockovich’s cameo**
One of the best surprises in *Erin Brockovich* is the waitress who appears right at the beginning of the film—and she isn’t just some random extra. That blonde server is the real Erin Brockovich herself. When Julia Roberts’ Erin walks into the little diner with her kids to grab a bite, it’s the real Erin who comes over to take their order.
How cool is that? Her cameo was written into her contract, so she had to play this tiny but special part—an affectionate wink to the woman whose life story powers the entire movie.
**An out-of-body experience**
When Erin showed up on set to film her cameo, it felt like stepping into another universe. She was playing a waitress named Julia while Julia Roberts sat just a few feet away—it hardly felt real. She later admitted that it was “like an out-of-body experience.” Erin was used to fighting in courtrooms, not performing in front of cameras, so the idea of acting threw her completely off balance.
“I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what was happening,” she told Fox. The excitement of being part of the film was undeniable, but so was the pressure.
The last thing she wanted was to screw up—especially with a star like Roberts watching. “I don’t like to get ahead of myself, but I was nervous. Really, really nervous,” she confessed.
**Did you catch the other secret cameo?**
Most fans know that the real Erin shows up in the film, but there’s another, even more obscure cameo: her actual lawyer, Ed Masry, sneaks onscreen too.
In that same diner scene where Erin plays the waitress, you can spot the real Ed Masry in the background. On screen he’s portrayed by Albert Finney, but for a brief moment the real attorney is right there, quietly sharing the frame.
**Erin Brockovich’s famous cleavage**
The real Erin Brockovich-Ellis has said that the movie is about 98–99 percent accurate.
Still, even though the film does a fantastic job of telling her story, it leaves a few nuances out. For example, Erin has been very clear that while her low-cut tops drew plenty of attention, she never consciously used her looks to manipulate people the way the film sometimes suggests.
While the world obsessed over her outfits, her cleavage and her salty language, the real Erin kept her focus on what actually mattered: the lives of the people harmed by toxic contamination.
“I’ve heard every comment about my chest, my neckline, my clothes, my mouth, all of it. I didn’t have time for that. People were poisoned, and the company did it and knew it. So yeah—back off. That was my attitude,” she told *Vulture*.
**The truth about her breast implants**
Erin Brockovich has never shied away from talking about tough parts of her life: battling dyslexia as a child, struggling with anorexia as an adult, and wrestling with insecurity that led her to get breast implants during her second, unhappy marriage.
Looking back on that decision, she’s refreshingly blunt—and has no regrets. “I decided the best way to boost my confidence was to lift my chest… and trust me, it worked,” she has joked.
**The “Miss Pacific Coast” mix-up**
In the movie, we’re told that Erin once held the title of “Miss Wichita.” In reality, the crown she actually wore was “Miss Pacific Coast.”
Erin herself pointed out this little mix-up and laughed about it later, especially when talking about why she eventually walked away from the pageant world altogether—it simply felt too superficial and small for her.
**Erin Brockovich’s only complaint about the movie**
For all its emotional power and attention to detail, the real Erin has said there was only one thing the film didn’t quite get right: the length of the skirts.
Director Steven Soderbergh later confirmed the story. “When Erin saw the film,” he explained, “she said, ‘The only thing that’s inaccurate is that the skirts aren’t short enough.’”
**Julia Roberts’ wardrobe journey into Erin Brockovich**
Julia Roberts may have won an Oscar for *Erin Brockovich*, but slipping into the character’s unapologetically revealing wardrobe was its own challenge. She understood that the provocative outfits were historically accurate, yet she worried they might look like a cheap Hollywood stunt.
“When you take someone who—by my modest, conservative clothing standards—is so visually provocative, you don’t want it to feel like some movie gimmick,” Roberts explained. “Like, oh, we hired someone with really long legs, so let’s put her in the shortest skirts known to mankind. You want it to feel as much a part of her as her hair, her voice, everything else.”
Once Roberts realized how important Erin’s wardrobe was to her persona, she committed fully.
That didn’t mean getting used to it was easy. “I have things in my closet I’d call ‘dresses,’” she joked. “Erin has things in her closet I’d call ‘dre.’ The whole ‘-ss’ part that covers your backside is missing.”
Even the crew needed time to adjust to the transformation. Roberts remembered, “I’d show up to rehearsal in a T-shirt, sweatpants and flip-flops and everyone was relaxed. Then I’d arrive on set in costume and the crew would go, ‘What happened?’ But once we all made peace with it, everything was fine.”
**Did Erin Brockovich really date George?**
The character of George, the biker boyfriend played by Aaron Eckhart, was inspired by a real Mexican American man in Erin’s life: Jorge Halaby.
Erin met the long-haired Harley-riding biker in the early 1990s, shortly after her second divorce, when she was only 25.
“He lifted me up when times were hard and he loved my kids,” she recalled. “He always made me laugh. He believed in me. Jorge was wonderful. Yes, he wore bracelets and had a ponytail. He was handsome—my God, he had the most beautiful hair. And Aaron Eckhart looked great too. He did such a good job.”
Even though their romantic relationship ended as Erin’s life moved forward, Jorge remained an important part of her world. At one point, he was even hired as a nanny for her children. The law firm she worked with helped arrange that, recognizing how much she had on her plate and wanting to support her.
Erin has joked that if the real Jorge had looked exactly like Eckhart, she might never have let him go. Their real-life relationship may not have been as neatly romantic as the movie version, but it was just as spirited and unique.
**The real Jorge had a brain tumor and died**
In a 2020 interview with *Vulture*, Erin shared a deeply personal and heartbreaking update about Jorge, the man who had been so important to her and her kids.
Jorge died after a battle with a brain tumor.
“At the time the movie came out, Jorge and I weren’t together,” she said. “He had a brain tumor, and there was a lot going on that I don’t think many of us fully understood. Jorge was a very unique person, and he was so good to my children.”
**Albert Finney initially turned the movie down**
Albert Finney brought a wonderful mix of gruffness and warmth to *Erin Brockovich*, turning Ed Masry into one of the film’s most beloved characters. He never overshadowed Roberts, but he absolutely held his own, playing the role with humor and heart. The chemistry between Finney and Roberts is pure magic—a testament to the casting.
Finney’s take on Ed is a masterclass in restrained acting. His flawless American accent, sharp wit and total authenticity in every scene explain why he’s remembered as one of the great actors of the 20th century. Whether he was playing Hercule Poirot, Daddy Warbucks or Ed Masry, Finney always mixed charm, bite and just the right amount of temper.
What many fans don’t know is that Finney initially turned the role down. Producer Danny DeVito had to step in. He convinced Finney’s partner by promising to cluster all of Finney’s scenes together so he wouldn’t have to spend too much time in Los Angeles. Luckily, the plan worked—and Finney’s performance has become one of the film’s standout delights.
**Julia Roberts’ paycheck for *Erin Brockovich***
Julia Roberts didn’t just light up the screen—she made Hollywood history. For *Erin Brockovich*, she earned a then-staggering 20 million dollars, becoming the first woman to break that salary barrier.
At the time, the amount sounded outrageous. But let’s be honest—after watching her fiery, determined performance as Erin, it’s hard to argue she wasn’t worth every cent.
**The big mistake in Julia Roberts’ Oscar speech**
Roberts may have taken home the Academy Award for Best Actress for *Erin Brockovich*, but her acceptance speech came with a face-palm moment.
Caught up in the emotion of the night, she completely forgot to thank the real Erin Brockovich-Ellis. Ouch. Later Roberts laughed at herself, joking, “It doesn’t exactly give you that Albert Einstein moment you were hoping for.”
**Money, money, money…**
The real Erin Brockovich-Ellis sold the rights to her incredible story for 100,000 dollars—and the movie went on to become a box-office smash. On a budget of 52 million, *Erin Brockovich* pulled in over 250 million dollars worldwide.
Its opening weekend brought in 28.1 million dollars across 2,848 theaters, making it the second-biggest March debut at the time, right behind *Liar Liar*. It was also Roberts’ second-largest opening weekend, just after *Runaway Bride*. Financially, it was a runaway success.
**“What a stupid title for a movie”**
At a party celebrating the film, everyone was discussing what the final title should be. Up to that point, the working title was simply *Erin Brockovich*.
Curious, the real Erin asked director Steven Soderbergh what they were going to call the movie. His answer: “Erin Brockovich.” Her reaction? “Damn!”
“In that moment I thought, ‘Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no,’” she later remembered, “because everyone kept saying, ‘What a stupid title for a movie.’ It put me in a position that made me really nervous.”
**A sneaky nod to Aaron Eckhart**
Around the 23-minute mark in *Erin Brockovich*, there’s a small but hilarious slip.
After Erin’s kids finish playing cards with George, one of the boys says, “Good night, Aaron,” accidentally calling George by actor Aaron Eckhart’s real first name.
**Did you spot the timeline error?**
If you watch closely, there’s another fun little mistake in a scene with George and Erin’s kids. Around 1 hour and 7 minutes in, they’re playing *Monopoly: Harley-Davidson Authorized Edition*. The catch? That particular version of the game wasn’t released until 1997—several years after the events depicted in the film.
It’s a minor chronological hiccup, but exactly the kind of thing eagle-eyed viewers love to notice.
**Erin Brockovich’s favorite scene in the film**
When people asked the real Erin about her favorite scenes in the movie, she didn’t hesitate—she adores some of the sharpest, funniest moments. One that tops her list is the line, “They’re called boobs, Ed.” She laughed, calling it hysterical and “such a smart line.”
Another standout for her is the bold, shocking quip: “I’m actually exhausted—I’ve just given 634 blow jobs.”
She giggled recalling it: “I’m sorry, but that was funny. It was so outrageous, and Julia delivered it perfectly.” Those moments captured the biting, unapologetic humor that was such a defining part of her real-life personality.
After the film’s huge success, it was the real Erin Brockovich who kept its legacy alive in the media, continuing to speak out and tell the story behind the movie.
**Julia Roberts had never heard Erin’s story**
Meanwhile, the woman doing the heavy lifting in front of the camera—Julia Roberts—mostly stayed a bit removed from the spotlight around the real case. That’s surprising when you consider how much the film changed her life too. It brought her her first Oscar—a monumental milestone that few actresses ever reach.
So what did Julia say about her experience making the film?
For one thing, she admitted that before signing on, she had never even heard of the scandal involving PG&E.
She also talked about how much she enjoyed playing the role: “It’s exciting material because you have this person who is the most unsuspecting heroine, and yet she’s fabulous and sort of larger than life and vibrant and incredible, and she swears like a sailor—all these amazing things to play.”
**Erin Brockovich today**
Today, Erin Brockovich isn’t just a well-known name—she’s a dynamic media figure who’s still fighting for people who need a voice. She has hosted television programs like *Challenge America with Erin Brockovich* on ABC and *Final Justice* on Zone Reality, inspiring others with her refusal to back down from tough battles.
Beyond her media work, Erin serves as president of Brockovich Research & Consulting, where she helps communities harmed by environmental problems.
She is also a consultant for the prestigious New York law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, which specializes in health-damage cases related to asbestos exposure, and she collaborates with Shine Lawyers in Australia.
**Erin Brockovich’s husband**
Erin’s first marriage, to Shawn Brown, ended in divorce. Later she married Stephen Brockovich, with whom she had a daughter, Beth.
After that relationship ended, Erin married her third husband, Eric L. Ellis, an actor and country-music DJ.
**Erin Brockovich’s children**
Alongside all her professional achievements, Erin is a devoted mother of three. She has a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Katie, from her first marriage to Shawn Brown, and a daughter, Elizabeth (“Beth”), from her second marriage to Stephen Brockovich.
**Erin Brockovich’s story is every bit as bold as her personality.**
**The film may highlight her daring wardrobe and razor-sharp tongue, but her real legacy lies in her relentless determination to secure justice for the people who needed it most.**
**So the next time you watch *Erin Brockovich*, remember: it’s not just about plunging necklines or snappy comebacks—it’s about a woman who refused to back down and proved that sometimes the most powerful weapon you have is simply being yourself.**
