Career: Pacino made his film debut in 1969's Me, Natalie, but it was his performance as a junkie in The Panic in Needle Park two years later that prompted director Francis Ford Coppola to cast him as Michael Corleone in The Godfather. The film was a huge hit and earned Pacino his first Oscar nomination. He followed it up with more hits including Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and Scarface (1983), but as his movie career appeared to be on the wane during the 1980s, he took a break to return to the theatre. He returned to the screen in 1989 with Sea of Love and, after seven previous nominations, went on to win an Oscar for Scent of a Woman (1992). He continues to combine movies, TV, theatre and directing work - recent projects include Danny Collins (2015) and Misconduct (2016).

Career: Keaton made ends meet performing at a nightclub before landing a role on Broadway in Hair, although she refused to take part in the musical's notorious nude scene. The role that changed her career was a part in Woody Allen's stage version of Play It Again, Sam. She went on to star in several of the director's films, including the big-screen adaptation of the play, as well as Sleeper, Love and Death, Manhattan and Annie Hall. She won an Oscar for the latter, and Allen has claimed she was his muse for a period. Keaton has also starred in The Godfather trilogy, Reds, The First Wives Club, Something's Gotta Give and Morning Glory, as well as moving into directing and producing.

Career: Garcia's breakthrough role came in The Untouchables (1987) and notable roles followed in Black Rain (1989), Internal Affairs (1990) and The Godfather: Part III (1990). By now, many believed he was of Italian descent. As a leading man, he has starred in such films as Jennifer 8 (1992) and Accidental Hero (1992). He won rave reviews for his role as Meg Ryan's husband in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) and gave another charismatic gangster turn in Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995). More recent hits include the Ocean's movies.

Career: In 1988, Fonda got her first substantial film role, co-starring with John Hurt in Scandal, based on the Profumo affair. Her breakthrough role, however, was as a journalist in The Godfather, Part III. After gaining additional work experience in a few theatre productions she was cast in the lead in Barbet Schroeder's Single White Female, followed by a role in Cameron Crowe's ensemble comedy Singles, both in 1992. The Road to Wellville was another success. In 1997 Fonda was on the same plane flight as Quentin Tarantino when he offered her the part of a beach babe in Jackie Brown. She has also given well-received performances in A Simple Plan, Kiss of the Dragon and Lake Placid. Her last major project was the TV movie Snow Queen 2002, in which she played the title role.

Career: Coppola is better known as a screenwriter and director. Her first film as a writer-director was The Virgin Suicides (1999). She followed this up with the critically acclaimed Lost in Translation (2003). It won a number of awards, including an Oscar for Coppola for best original screenplay. Since then, she has made Marie Antoinette (2006), Somewhere (2010) and The Bling Ring (2013).