HOLLYWOOD -- Robert Schwartzman's family tree has some mighty impressive branches.

His mother is actress and filmmaker Talia Shire, the sister of Francis Ford Coppola, which means Robert counts Nicolas Cage and Sofia Coppola as cousins.

"There's no question it's a positive thing in the business to have the family I have. They're all so respected by their peers and by the industry itself," says Schwartzman, the young wannabe rock star in The Princess Diaries.

His earliest memory of filmmaking was on the sets of his mother's films Rocky V and Godfather III.

"When I was 10, my mother let me be a production assistant on her movie One Night Stand. It was so exciting working on a film rather than just sitting there watching everyone else work. I think that's when I got hooked."

Robert's older brother Jason starred opposite Bill Murray in Rushmore.

"Our mother tried to discourage both of us from being actors, but once we'd made it clear we wanted to give it a try, she was there for us 100 percent."

Robert insists there is "absolutely no sibling rivalry.

"We call it sibling support. Jason is 21. I'm 18. We have gone out for the same parts, but we never consider it competition."

It was Robert's cousin, Sofia, who gave him his first acting roles. He starred in her short film Lick the Star and had a cameo in The Virgin Suicides.

Schwartzman finds it a bit ironic he is playing a struggling garage-band musician in The Princess Diaries.

"I play guitar and keyboards for a band I formed called Rooney. ... I'd like to be recognized as both an actor and a musician."


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