Carmela is portrayed by Italian-American Morgana King in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film adaptation of the novel, and in The Godfather Part II (1974).

[1] The character of Carmela and her husband Vito, a crime boss, have four children: Santino ("Sonny"), Frederico ("Fredo"), Michael and Constanzia ("Connie").

[2] In The Godfather Part II's flashback scenes, the young Carmela is portrayed by Francesca De Sapio.

Carmela was disturbed by Vito's change from a kind, quiet young man to a pragmatic and ruthless criminal.

In An Offer We Can't Refuse: The Mafia in the Mind of America, journalist George De Stefano writes about the Corleones as portrayed in The Godfather: "I recognized these people, their appearance, mannerisms, behavior, and attitudes.