Biography

Younger sister of Francis Ford Coppola and August Coppola.

Was the first family member of Francis Ford Coppola to play a part in the Godfather series, and she set a trend that the others followed: all of their characters had the same relationship to Michael Corleone in the films, that they had to Coppola in real life. Talia, as Francis' sister, played Michael's sister. Her mother Italia Coppola played Michael's mother - although only at the character's funeral. Her niece, and Francis' daughter, Sofia Coppola, played Michael's daughter and Connie Corleone's niece. Diane Keaton, who played Michael's wife, has also said that she based her performance as Kay on Eleanor Coppola, Francis' wife.

In the original script for The Godfather Part II (1974), Kay (Diane Keaton) was truly to have suffered a miscarriage. When Talia read it, she suggested to Francis Ford Coppola that Kay should have an abortion instead. Coppola agreed that this would hurt Michael much more, and he changed the script accordingly. As a thank you to Talia, he wrote for her the scene in which a tearful Connie begs Michael to forgive Fredo. She ended up being nominated for Best Supporting Actress for the film.

Mother of Matthew Shire, Jason Schwartzman and Robert Schwartzman.

She is the only person to be directed to an Oscar nomination by a sibling. Her brother Francis Ford Coppola directed her in The Godfather Part II (1974).