Sometimes, a big break can come after many decades of effort and networking. For others, that turning point can arrive very early on, perhaps without a person realizing at the time how many dividends that opportunity would end up providing.
For Simonetta Stefanelli, her biggest claim to fame occurred when she was a teenager, and will always be remembered for her role in The Godfather.
Background Info
The story of Simonetta Stefanelli starts on November 30, 1954 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. There isn’t too much known about her childhood, or who her parents were, as she has generally kept those details private.
Early Career
Stefanelli’s educational background and adolescent hobbies aren’t readily available, but we do know that she was an up and coming actress domestically. She laid the foundation for her cinematic resume early on, and participated in a few Italian movies during that time. One such film was La Moglie Giapponese(The Japanese Wife). The film was released in 1970, and is about an Italian accountant who is assigned to business in Japan to replace an ill colleague.
The Godfather
Stefanelli soon landed another role in a film that would captivate audiences worldwide. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, “The Godfather” aimed to transform Mario Puzo’s novel into a cinematic masterpiece and did so rightly, turning it into of the best movies of all time.
It has been brought up in several media outlets (like “The Rewatchables” podcast) that the casting of Stefanelli does not age particularly well. She was only 16/17 years old when they started filming, while Pacino was in his thirties.
Stefanelli has not been present in Godfather reunions over the years. This is likely because her role was isolated from the rest of the main cast, and she primarily chose to make a name for herself in Italy.
Other Roles
Stefanelli has other acting credits to her name, most of which are Italian TV shows or movies. Perhaps her most notable role outside of The Godfather came as Lucrezia Borgia in the 1974 film Young Lucrezia. The movie is about a brother-sister love story that gets interrupted when the brother goes off to war, leaving his pregnant sister at home.
Current Projects
Since stepping back from her acting career in 1992, Simonetta Stefanelli has embraced a new venture. She opened and operated a fashion store in Rome named Simo Bloom, where she channeled her creativity into designing purses and shoes. However, this store is no longer in operation.
In recent years, Simonetta Stefanelli has stepped away from the limelight. Her last acting role was in 1992, marking a three-decade hiatus from acting.
Now 67, Stefanelli enjoys a serene life in the countryside near Rome, sharing her days with her partner and her children, all of whom are actors. She dedicates her time to painting vibrant artworks, penning her debut novel, and composing poetry for her personal collection.
Stefanelli has largely avoided media interviews for many years, making a rare exception for the 50th anniversary of “The Godfather,” released on March 15, 1972.
During the interview, she shared her initial obliviousness to the film’s potential impact. Unfamiliar with Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino at the time, and only recognizing Marlon Brando, she was unexpectedly cast at 16 by Coppola’s assistant director in Assisi. She boarded a plane to the set with just a few pages about her character from Mario Puzo’s book, not fully grasping the role.
Reflecting on her co-stars, Stefanelli remarked that Al Pacino, whom she met on her second day of filming, didn’t strike her as particularly handsome or impactful. Coppola, however, was a kind presence, often accompanied by his family, including a young Sofia in a stroller. He encouraged Stefanelli to trust her instincts and never handed her a scripted line.
Family Life
Although her on-screen love with Michael Corleone will remain immortalized in The Godfather, she ended up falling in love with another Michael in real life.
Michele Placido and Stefanelli appeared in and worked together on several Italian films, and married in 1989. Their marriage only lasted five years, but Stefanelli had three children with Placido: Violante, Brenno and Michelangelo.
Following in the footsteps of their parents, all three children currently find themselves in the entertainment industry, with Violante showing out as a musician as well.
Well into his seventies, Michele Placido continues to act and write to this day.
