Crossword Genius

Julia Roberts plays ____ Brockovich in a 2000 film (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

erin

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'julia roberts' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'plays brockovich in a 2000 film' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'in' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'er' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for erin that I've seen before include "country" , "Literary term for Ireland" , "that faces Atlantic" , "Poetically, Ireland" , "(Literary name for) Ireland" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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