Born Talia Rose Coppola within Lake Success, New York, she is the sister of director and producer Francis Ford Coppola.

Shire became celebrated for her roles when a married woman of boxer Rocky Balboa in the Rocky movies, and for her role in The Godfather and its sequels. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Godfather, Part II and for the Best Actress in a Leading Role for Rocky.

She is the mother of actors Jason and Robert Schwartzman and aunt to actor Nicolas Cage.