The portrayal is considered highly accurate to the real Erin Brockovich's personality, determination, unconventional methods, and dedication to the Hinkley case, as confirmed by Brockovich herself.

Based on the real lawyer Ed Masry who hired Brockovich and spearheaded the lawsuit. His initial skepticism, eventual partnership with Erin, and commitment are accurately depicted.

Based on Erin's real-life biker boyfriend at the time, Jorge Halaby. His supportive role, including helping with childcare, accurately reflects their relationship during the case.

Based on a real Hinkley plaintiff who suffered from illnesses linked to the water contamination and was one of the key residents Erin first connected with.

Based on the real Charles Embry, a former PG&E worker who provided crucial documents proving the company knew about the dangers of hexavalent chromium and tried to conceal it.

Represents the lawyers from the larger firm Masry & Vititoe partnered with (specifically Girardi & Keese, with Thomas Girardi being the lead). Potter is a fictional composite character.

The real Erin Brockovich was in a car accident and subsequently lost the personal injury lawsuit handled by Ed Masry.

After losing her case, Brockovich insisted Masry give her a job at his law firm, Masry & Vititoe, which he did.

While working as a file clerk, Brockovich discovered medical documents mixed into a pro bono real estate case involving PG&E buying homes in Hinkley, triggering her investigation.

The core issue was PG&E's decades-long use of hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) in cooling towers and its subsequent leakage into the local water supply.

Evidence, including documents revealed by Charles Embry, showed PG&E knew the chromium was toxic Cr-VI (not harmless Cr-III as they claimed) and had concealed information about the contamination.

Brockovich's success was largely due to her ability to connect with Hinkley residents on a personal level, gain their trust, listen to their stories, and explain complex information clearly.

Lacking formal legal training, Brockovich compensated with dedication, memorizing vast amounts of technical data and personal details about the hundreds of plaintiffs.

A significant part of Erin's work involved visiting Hinkley repeatedly, collecting water samples (sometimes covertly), and meticulously documenting the various illnesses affecting the community.

PG&E initially made lowball offers to settle individual cases, which were rejected as the full scope of the contamination and the number of affected residents became clear.

The lawsuit ultimately grew to include 634 plaintiffs from Hinkley against PG&E.

Due to its size and complexity, the Hinkley case bypassed a traditional jury trial and was resolved through binding arbitration in 1996.

The case resulted in a $333 million settlement paid by PG&E to the Hinkley plaintiffs, the largest direct-action lawsuit settlement in US history at that time.

Ed Masry paid Erin Brockovich a substantial bonus for her pivotal role in the case; reports confirm the amount was around the $2 million depicted in the film.

The film accurately portrays the significant personal challenges Brockovich faced as a single mother juggling childcare, finances, and the immense workload of the PG&E case.

The film effectively portrays the small, rural desert community setting of Hinkley in San Bernardino County where the events unfolded. Filming occurred in the area, adding authenticity.

Costumes, technology (like early computers, lack of widespread internet/cell phones), cars, and overall atmosphere accurately reflect the early to mid-1990s when the investigation took place.

The portrayal of a relatively small, less corporate law firm environment accurately reflects Ed Masry's practice at the time the case began.

The film includes views of the actual PG&E compressor station in Hinkley, the source of the hexavalent chromium contamination.

While avoiding overly graphic medical details, the film accurately conveys the types of illnesses (cancers, respiratory diseases, miscarriages, skin conditions) reported by residents linked to Cr-VI.

The film accurately portrays Hinkley as a predominantly working-class community, whose residents initially felt powerless against a large corporation like PG&E.