Off The RecordThe Life Of Erin Brockovich: Children, The Real George, And Obscure Facts
Erin Brokovich is undoubtedly one of those movies that Hollywood occasionally produces that are simply ageless.

There is a lot more to it than what we saw in the finished film, though, including sequences and little-known details that really enhance the narrative.

Julia Roberts’ performance in Erin Brockovich was flawless. It’s genuinely one of the best films I’ve ever watched; it has a powerful tale and amazing acting without any ostentatious special effects. Based on the true story of Erin Brockovich, a single mother who challenged a large corporation over water poisoning, Roberts vividly and inspirationally brings her to life.

To be honest, I would much prefer rewatch this classic than the majority of the more recent films that are being released.

Even though Erin Brockovich is a masterwork, there are some oddball moments and enjoyable behind-the-scenes activities! Here are several amusing details, errors, and unspoken facts about the movie that you may not be aware of:

Source: Wikipedia
The real Erin Brockovich’s cameo
The waitress at the opening of Erin Brockovich is one of the film’s greatest small surprises, and she’s not just any actor. This is the actual Erin Brockovich! Yes, you heard correctly. When Julia Roberts and her children visit a snack restaurant, the actual Erin appears as a blonde server.

How awesome is that? As a wonderful reference to the woman whose narrative the film is based on, it was actually stipulated in the contract that she would have this unique moment in the film.

An out-of-body experience
When Erin Brockovich stepped onto the movie set for her cameo, it was like stepping into another world. Playing a waitress named Julia while Julia Roberts was just a few feet away felt surreal. “It was like an out-of-body experience,” she later admitted. As someone used to fighting battles in courtrooms, not on camera, the idea of acting left her stomach in knots.

“I couldn’t wrap my head around it,” she told Fox. The excitement of being part of the film was undeniable, but so was the pressure.

Souce: Reddit
Erin didn’t want to mess up, especially in front of a star like Roberts. “I don’t like to get ahead of myself, but I was nervous. Really nervous.”

Did you catch another hidden cameo?
Although many fans are aware that Erin Brockovich herself appears in the movie, there is a little-known twist: Ed Masry, her real-life attorney, also makes an appearance.

The real Ed Masry, played by Albert Finney in the film, is seen seated in the background of the same diner scene in which Erin plays a waitress.

Erin Brockovich clevage
According to the real Erin Brockovich-Ellis, the movie was 98–99% true.

Even though the film does a fantastic job of narrating Erin’s narrative, some details are omitted. The real Erin Brockovich-Ellis, for instance, has stated that although her cleavage may have drawn some attention, she never purposefully utilized her attractiveness to control others, as the film implies.

The genuine Erin remained focused on the lives impacted by toxic poisoning, despite the criticism of her language and appearance.

“I heard a lot of comments about, you know, the boobs, the cleavage, the way I dress, the language, whatever. I didn’t have time for that. People were poisoned, and they did it and they know it. So yeah, fuck off. That was really my stance,” she told Vulture.

Truth about her breast implants
From overcoming childhood dyslexia and managing adult anxiety to facing the self-doubt that prompted her to have breast implants during her second miserable marriage, the real Erin Brockovich has never held back when discussing her hardships.

Reflecting on that decision, she’s refreshingly honest and has zero regrets. ”I decided the best way to boost my confidence would be to get my chest lifted… and believe me, it worked.”

The mix-up with Miss Pacific Coast
Erin Brockovich, who was Miss Pacific Coast in real life, is also portrayed in the film as having received the title of Miss Wichita.

Erin herself called attention to this small error, chuckling as she considered her choice to quit the “shallow” world of beauty pageants.

Think figure-hugging skirts and those striking high heels that wonderfully reflected the actual Erin’s combative yet gorgeous demeanor. Julia Roberts wore an iconic outfit while filming Erin Brockovich.

Erin Brockovich’s one complaint about the movie
Erin Brockovich made a joke about Julia Roberts’s skirts in the film being too long during their talk prior to the screening.

This amusing observation was later confirmed by the film’s director, Steven Soderbergh. “When Erin saw the movie,” he explained, “she said, ‘The only thing that was inaccurate is that the skirts weren’t short enough.’”

Julia Roberts’ wardrobe Journey in Erin Brockovich
Despite her Oscar-winning portrayal in Erin Brockovich, Julia Roberts faced difficulties when she wore the activist’s skimpy clothing. Roberts was initially concerned that the bold costumes may appear excessive for the screen, even though she recognized the historical authenticity of the ensembles.

“When you take someone who—by my modest, conservative standards of dressing—is so visually provocative,” Roberts explained, “you don’t want to make it seem like a movie contrivance. ‘Oh, we hired someone with really long legs, so let’s give her the shortest skirts known to mankind.’ You want it to seem as much a part of her as her hair, voice or anything else.”

Roberts accepted the job after realizing how crucial Erin’s attire was to the essence of her character.

Still, adjusting to the wardrobe (or lack thereof) wasn’t exactly seamless. “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 ass isn’t there.”

Even the film’s crew needed time to adapt to her on-screen transformation. Roberts recalled, “I’d come into rehearsal in my T-shirt and sweatpants and flip-flops, and everybody was cool. Then I’d come on the set to shoot [in my costumes], and everybody on the crew would be like, ‘What happened?’ But once we all got comfortable with it, it was fine.”

Did Erin Brockovich really date George?
Erin Brockovich-Ellis’s real-life Mexican-American lover Jorge Halaby served as the model for Aaron Eckhart’s portrayal of George, the motorcycle boyfriend.

Erin was only 25 years old when she first met the long-haired, Harley-riding biker in the early 1990s, right after her second divorce.

”He lifted me up during a bad time and loved my kids. He used to always make me laugh. And he believed in me. Jorge was great. Yes, he wore the bracelets and had the ponytail. Boy, was he good-looking? Gosh, he had the most beautiful hair. And Aaron Eckhart was also very good-looking. He did such a good job,” Erin said.

Despite their breakup during Erin’s personal journey, Jorge continued to play a significant role in her life. Jorge was actually brought on as Erin’s kids’ full-time live-in babysitter. The law firm she was working with made this agreement possible since they wanted to help her and recognized how difficult her case was.

Erin Brockovich couldn’t resist chuckling at Aaron Eckhart’s decision to portray George, asserting that she would never have let him go if the real Jorge had resembled that. Despite not having the Hollywood appearance, their real-life love was just as enjoyable and distinctive as the film depicted.

The real George had a brain tumor and died
Erin Brockovich disclosed a very intimate and tragic fact about Jorge, the guy who had played such a significant role in her life and the lives of her children, in a 2020 interview with Vulture.

After fighting a brain tumor, Jorge died.

”Jorge and I, right at the time the film came out, weren’t together. Jorge had a brain tumor and there were a lot of things going on that I don’t think a lot of us understood. Jorge was a very unique man, and he was so great with my children,” she said.

Albert Finney initially turned down the film
Ed Masry, one of the movie’s most adored characters, was created by Albert Finney, who gave Erin Brockovich a unique charm and gravitas. Despite not outshining Julia Roberts, he managed to maintain a strong presence with a charming and humorous performance. A tribute to the casting team’s genius, Finney and Roberts’ chemistry was pure magic.

Finney’s performance as Ed was a masterwork of subtle brilliance, demonstrating the same commitment he made to each of his performances. He was one of the best actors of the 20th century, and it was evident from his perfect American accent to the wit and realism he brought to every scene. Finney’s portrayals, whether they were as Ed Masry, Daddy Warbucks, or Poirot, were consistently infused with humor, charm, and, when necessary, a hint of venom.

However, many fans may not be aware that Finney initially declined the part. One of the movie’s producers, Danny DeVito, had to step in. By offering to rearrange all of his sequences to be shot closer together, DeVito was able to convince Finney’s fiancée to change his mind and spare him from having to spend as much time in Los Angeles. Fortunately, the strategy was successful, and Finney’s performance is still regarded as one of the movie’s highlights, solidifying his reputation as one of the best actors.

Julia Roberts’ salary in Erin Brockovich
In addition to lighting up the screen in the film, Julia Roberts created Hollywood history! Roberts was the first woman to break past that pay barrier, receiving a record-breaking $20 million for her major part.

Even though it was an astounding sum at the time, we can all agree that she was well worth the money after witnessing her great performance as the sassy, driven Erin.

Julia Roberts made a big mistake on stage
Despite winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Erin Brockovich, Julia Roberts’ acceptance speech was somewhat disappointing.

In the excitement, she completely forgot to thank the real Erin Brockovich-Ellis! Oops. Later, Roberts laughed off the blunder, joking, “It doesn’t bring out the Albert Einstein moment that you hoped it would.”

Money, money, money…
The film was a huge success, and the actual Erin Brockovich-Ellis made a tidy $100,000 selling the rights to her amazing story! Erin Brockovich made nearly $250 million globally on a $52 million budget.

After Liar Liar, it had the second-highest March opening at the time, earning $28.1 million from 2,848 theaters on its first weekend of release. The opening weekend was also the second-biggest for Julia Roberts, after Runaway Bride! How about a financial victory?

“What a dumb name for a movie”
The working title of the movie was “Erin Brockovich,” and at the wrap party, everyone was arguing over what to call it.

Wondering what they would call it, the actual Erin approached director Steven Soderbergh, who only said, “Erin Brockovich.” What was Erin’s response? “Dude!”

”At that point, I was like, Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no because everyone was like, What a dumb name for a movie. That put me in a position that made me nervous,” Erin shared.

A sneaky nod to Aaron Eckhart
There is a minor but entertaining error in Erin Brockovich at about minute 23.

The son calls George by the actor’s true name, Aaron Eckhart, and says, “Good night, Aaron,” after the children have finished playing cards with George.

Did you spot the timeline slip?
You might notice a humorous detail in a scene with George and Erin’s children if you have an excellent eye. They are playing Monopoly: Harley-Davidson Authorized Edition at about 1 hour 7 minutes, but the worst part is that the game wasn’t released until 1997, a few years after the movie’s setting!

There is a minor chronological error, but it’s one of those amusing movie moments to identify.

Erin Brockovich’s favorite scene in the movie
When asked about her favorite scenes in the movie, Erin Brockovich didn’t hesitate to share her love for some of the wittiest moments. “They’re called boobs, Ed,” she said with a laugh. “I thought that was hilarious. It was such a clever line.”

Another noteworthy instance for her? The audacious and startling statement, “I’m actually exhausted.” I recently completed 634 blow jobs.

She chuckled, adding, “I’m sorry, but that was funny. It was so outrageous, and Julia delivered it perfectly.” These scenes really captured her sharp, unapologetic humor, which was a defining part of her real-life personality.

The real Erin Brockovich is the one who has kept the movie’s memory alive through the media following its enormous success.

Julia Roberts had never heard Erin’s story
Julia Roberts, the lady who performed the most of the work in front of the camera, has, nevertheless, maintained a somewhat lower profile. It is somewhat unexpected, particularly in light of the fact that the movie also altered Julia’s life. She won her first Oscar for it, which is a huge accomplishment for actors.

What has Julia stated about her viewing experience of the movie?
For starters, she disclosed that before accepting the position, she was unaware of the PG&E incident.

Julia also expressed how much she loved playing the role: “It’s compelling material because you have a person who is the most unsuspecting of heroines who also happens to be fabulous and kind of bare than life and vivacious and incredible and talks like a sailor and like all these great things to play.”

Erin Brockovich today
Erin Brockovich is still working to bring justice to those in need today, and she is not only a well-known figure but also a vibrant media personality. Her enthusiasm for overcoming obstacles inspires others, and she presents the TV shows Final Justice on Zone Reality and Challenge America with Erin Brockovich on ABC.

Erin aids people impacted by environmental issues as president of Brockovich Research & Consulting in addition to her work in the media.

She also works with Shine Lawyers in Australia and is a consultant for the esteemed New York legal firm Weitz & Luxenberg, which focuses on asbestos-related personal injury lawsuits.

According to 2024, Erin Brockovich used the $2.5 million incentive she got after the Hinkley settlement to purchase a house in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996.

Erin Brockovich husband
Following the dissolution of her first marriage to Shawn Brown, Erin wed Steven Brockovich, with whom she had a daughter named Beth.

Erin later married her third spouse, country music DJ and actor Eric L. Ellis, following their divorce.

Erin Brockovich kids
In addition to her career achievements, Erin is a devoted mother to three children: Elizabeth (“Beth”) from her second marriage to Steven Brockovich, a daughter from her previous marriage to Shawn Brown, and a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Katie.

Erin Brockovich’s story is as bold as her attitude!

Although the movie emphasized her frank remarks and skimpy attire, Erin’s real legacy lies in her unwavering search for the truth for those who most needed it.

Remember, the next time you watch Erin Brockovich, it’s about a woman who refuses to back down, proving that sometimes being oneself is the most potent weapon. It’s not just about the cleavage or the memorable one-liners.