[1] In the film The Godfather, Connie, born in 1925, is the youngest child and only daughter of Mafia don Vito Corleone and his wife Carmela.

[2] Vito disapproves of the match, as Carlo's mother is from Northern Italy rather than Sicily, and only agrees to the marriage on the condition that they have a traditional Sicilian wedding.

Connie (who was unaware of her husband's role in Sonny's murder), hysterical after Carlo's death, blames Michael, denouncing him in front of his wife, Kay.

In the film The Godfather Part II, set three years after the first movie, Connie is still angry at Michael, Two months after Carlo's death, Connie began a series of meaningless affairs and marriages just to spite Michael and deal with her grief over the murder of her husband, such as her engagements to both Ed Federici and Merle Johnson, even borrowing money and abandoning her two children.

In the movie The Godfather Part III, set 20 years after the second film, Connie has become one of Michael's closest advisors, gradually assuming an active role in Corleone Family operations.

She encourages Michael to bring Sonny's illegitimate son Vincent Mancini into the Corleone family and support him in his feud with Joey Zasa.

Michael is furious that Connie gave an order behind his back, but maintains that it was necessary to strike fear into his enemies and prevent further hit attempts upon himself.

[3] The Italian-language version of The Godfather Part III changes Connie's name's spelling to the far more standard and common "Costanza" rather than keeping the original "Constanzia", which is rare and archaic in Italy.

"[5] In The Godfather Part II, Connie has become an irresponsible social climber, paying scant attention to her sons while speeding through two superficial marriages, much to the disapproval of Michael.

With Vito and Sonny dead, and Fredo proving incapable of serving as any family authority figure, Connie must beg Michael for money to support her party-girl lifestyle.

Following the death of matriarch Carmela Corleone, Connie apparently abandons her promiscuous ways, and returns to the now-divorced Michael to assume a supportive role in his household.