Simonetta Stefanelli is a former actress who is best remembered for her role as Apollonia Vetelli Corleone in the 1972 American epic crime film, The Godfather. However, she faded off the screen in 1992 after her role as Giuliana in the Italian drama film, Close Friends. Since then, her whereabouts have been a subject of speculation, including a death hoax.
Nonetheless, we can confirm that she is very much alive and living away from the spotlight. If you are wondering what Simonetta has been up to since she left acting, here’s your treat.
Simonetta Stefanelli Pursued a Career in the Fashion Industry after Retiring From Acting
Since Simonetta Stefanelli retired from acting, she has been elusive from the public’s eye. As such, her disappearance has been linked to varying reasons including a death hoax in 2006 and another in 2008.
While her whereabouts continue to be a subject of debate, Loveohlust garnered that she briefly lived in London but has long returned to Rome, Italy. There, she pursued a career as a designer and owned a fashion shop known as the “Simo Bloom” located in Via Chiana in Rome. For a long time, she was the sole designer of bags and shoes that were sold there.
However, “Simo Bloom” is no longer in existence and it’s not known why she decided to close the shop. Nonetheless, as of 2022, she hinted that she has been exploring her interest as a writer. She started writing her first novel in 2022 and also writes personal poems. Aside from this, she spends time painting.
Here are Other Interesting Facts About Simonetta Stefanelli
1. The Godfather Actress Is Now 68 Years Old
Simonetta Stefanelli was only 16 years old when she was given the role of Apollonia in The Godfather. She was born on November 30, 1954, which means that she’s 68 years old at the moment. From the records, she was raised in Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Following her penchant for privacy, information about her early life and family background has not been established. We also have no records of her parents and other family members.
2. Simonetta Stefanelli Started Acting at the Age of 14
Simonetta developed an interest in acting at a very young age and pulled off her first known film role as a Japanese wife in the 1968 comedy film La Moglie Giapponese which was written by Rodolfo Senego and directed by Gian Luigo Polidorio. She later appeared in an uncredited role as Maureen McBain in Once Upon a Time in the West that same year.
Following that, she went on to record over 20 acting credits to her name in productions in films and TV series such as Three Brothers (1981), II Falco e la Colomba (1981), Art of Love (1983), Scoop (1992) and Close Friends (1992) which became her last role in the entertainment industry.
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3. She Earned Her Career Breakthrough as Apollonia in The Godfather.
Even though it has been over 3 decades since Simonetta Stefanelli retired from the entertainment industry, she is still remembered by many for her roles as Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone in the American epic crime The Godfather. The film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo. It also starred legendary actors like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan.
In the Academy Award-Winning classic, Simonetta Stefanelli’s character is a young woman from Sicily and the daughter of Signore Vitelli, a local tavern keeper. She later became the love interest and first wife of Micheal Corleone. According to the story, Micheal was hiding in Italy after Killiing Virgil Solozzo and the police captain Mark McCluskey. It was while at Simonetta’s father’s tavern that he first saw her and decided to ask her father for permission to meet her.
The pair met and later got married. Though a non-English speaker, Apollonia learned the language to impress her husband and later taught herself how to drive. Unfortunately, she accidentally triggers a car bomb meant for her husband and dies in the blast. Micheal was left devastated after her death and later returned to the U.S. where he would meet and marry Kay Adams.
4. The Godfather Actress was Married to Michele Placido for 5 Years
Simonetta Stefanelli was previously married to the actor and director, Michele Placido in 1989. Information on when the pair met has not been established however, it is reported in many quarters that their relationship kicked off in the 70s, and their careers in the entertainment industry paved the way for them to meet and later get hitched.
As a couple, Simonetta and Placido appeared in and worked together on several Italian films including the I975 erotic drama Peccati in Famiglia.
Unfortunately, their marriage hit the rock in the 5th year of their marriage leading to an amicable split in 1994.
While not so much about her personal life has been on air since then, the former actress revealed in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that she has a companion. However, she didn’t reveal his identity. We also gathered that her ex-husband, Michele Placido moved on with the Italian actress Federica Vincenti in 2002. The pair later got married in 2012 but divorced after 5 years.
5. Simonetta Stefanelli’s Children are all Active in the Entertainment Industry
Simonetta’s marriage to Placido saw the birth of three children – a daughter and two sons. Their first child Violante Placido was born on May 1, 1976, a few years before they got married and she’s 47 years old at the moment. The pair welcomed their sons Michelangelo Placido and Brenno Placido in 1990 and 1991 respectively.
Like Simonetta and her ex-husband, their children also took the same career paths. They are active in the entertainment industry as actors and have a number of acting credits to their names.
