Her stage name, Pupella, was actually the nickname her family called her by, when she was a child. The nickname was due to the fact that she made her debut on stage, when she was only one year old, in the role of a doll, in Eduardo Scarpetta's comedy "La Pupa movibile". (In Neapolitan dialect, Pupella means 'little doll' approximately).
Not "born in a trunk", but actually born on the set of her family's small theater company. A performer since age 3, she later progressed to regular starring roles in the films of director Eduardo De Filippo. Even in her 80s, she taught acting to small groups of students.
One child, Maria.
Sister of actors Icadio Maggio, Enzo Maggio, Beniamino Maggio, Dante Maggio, Rosalia Maggio and Margherita Maggio.