Erin Brockovich, the woman immortalised by Hollywood for defending Americans against polluting corporates, is fronting an advertising campaign for appliance retailer Noel Leeming.
Brockovich can be seen on New Zealand television screens tonight, the first time she has fronted a commercial brand campaign. Filming took place in Los Angeles last month. It is not known what Brockovich was paid.
In 2000, a film starring Julia Roberts portrayed Brockovich's fight on behalf of the residents of Hinkley, California, who alleged a nearby plant contaminated their water, causing toxic posioning. The case was settled in the residents' favour for $434 million ($US333m).
Noel Leeming chief executive Andrew Dutkiewicz said Brockovich agreed to the campaign only on the basis she could talk about what mattered to her most. In the ads Brockovich talks about doing the right thing, behaving with integrity, giving back to the community, caring for the environment and the need to look after people. Dutkiewicz said the company had simply called Brockovich's agent and asked if she would be interested.
Brockovich currently heads her own research and consulting company.
