Hollywood motion picture "Erin Brockovich" starring Julia Roberts has collected a record amount and entered the list of the most popular films. Not all fans of the tape know that the cheerful, adventurous and extraordinary heroine has a prototype - Erin Brockovich-Ellis. Her story is slightly different from the on-screen story, but the highlights and main intrigue are similar.
The beginning of the biography
Erin's maiden name is Patty. She was born in the small town of Lawrence, Kansas. The family was the most ordinary, not too wealthy. Frank and Betty Jo Patty could not provide their daughter with a good education, and she herself was not too diligent in her studies.
The girl graduated from high school in Lawrence, then entered the University of Kansas, studied law at one of the Texas colleges. As a result, Erin received a lower degree diploma, with which she could not count on a prestigious and highly paid job. But she managed to win one of the local beauty contests and receive the title "Miss Pacific Coast".
Personal life
Not excelling in science, Erin focused on the pursuit of personal happiness. She was married twice. The first spouse was Sean Brown, the second - Stephen Brockovich. Erin later said that family life was unsuccessful. Despite the birth of three children, there were often scandals and even fights at home. After the divorce, the woman was left practically without a livelihood, she had to seriously start looking for work.
Career takeoff
Erin has a background in a law firm. It was problematic to get a job with such baggage, but she was lucky in the law office of Ed Masri. In 1997, a conflict broke out between the residents of the town of Heasley and a large corporation PG&E. The company leaked dangerous hexavalent chromium, the substance entered the water utility and poisoned the residents of the town for several years.
At the initiative of the residents, Ed and Erin took up the case. The problem was solved by attracting high-class lawyers, a pre-trial agreement was drawn up with the company, residents were to receive compensation in the amount of $ 333 million (the lawyers' fee was about 130 million).
The situation was resolved thanks to Erin's perseverance and perseverance, but the logical point was nevertheless put by the professionals. Brockovich became famous, she was engaged in similar projects for some time in Masri's firm, and then founded her own law firm. Erin has become honorary doctorates from several universities and has worked as a visiting consultant at a major New York law firm.
History in cinema
The film "Erin Brockovich" cost the creators $ 50 million, but the income from it was high. The leading actress received a fee of 20 million - huge even for an actress of her level. But Erin herself did not make a special fortune - she sold her story to producers for only 100 thousand dollars. The bonus was the small role of a waitress.
After the premiere, the real Brockovich faced problems. Few believed that her income from the painting had nothing to do with the fantastic royalties of the stars. The second husband filed a lawsuit against Erin, claiming that in the film he was shown as a cruel man who left his own child without a livelihood. Erin herself believed that Stephen's main goal was to receive material compensation.
The first husband, Sean, did not stand aside either. According to rumors, he is also trying to get money from Erin by blackmailing her with certain letters and threatening to reveal the secret about Brockovich's sexual relationship with lawyer Ed Masri.
