Trivia

Learned sign language at a very young age, as both of her parents were deaf. When Fletcher neared the end of her (spoken) Best Actress Oscar acceptance speech for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), she finished with a unique (unspoken) touch in American Sign Language: "For my mother and my father, I want to say thank you for teaching me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true. Thank you." (29 March 1976).

After her divorce from producer Jerry Bick in the late 1970s she caused a stir when she, then in her 40s, began dating 21-year-old Morgan Mason, the son of actor James Mason.

Her Oscar-winning role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) was ranked #5 in the American Film Institute's Villains list in their 100 years of The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains.

Her role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) had been turned down by Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Colleen Dewhurst and Jane Fonda. Bancroft and Dewhurst turned down the role because they found it anti-feminist and downright misogynistic.

Was a leading choice to play the mother in Terms of Endearment (1983).

Lily Tomlin's role in Robert Altman's Nashville (1975) was originally written for, and in part by, Fletcher, whose then-husband had been Altman's producer. When the two men had a falling-out, Altman chose to cast Tomlin instead.

She was in several scenes that were later deleted from Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America (1984).

Was cited for reckless driving in 2000 when she slammed into a police officer near her Virginia home.

Is one of 12 actresses who won the Best Actress Oscar for a movie that also won the Best Picture Oscar (she won for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)). The others are Claudette Colbert for It Happened One Night (1934), Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind (1939), Greer Garson for Mrs. Miniver (1942), Diane Keaton for Annie Hall (1977), Shirley MacLaine for Terms of Endearment (1983), Jessica Tandy for Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Jodie Foster for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare in Love (1998), Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Frances McDormand for Nomadland (2020).

Daughter of Robert (1901-1988), born in the state of Alabama, and Estelle (née Caldwell) Fletcher (1901-1992), born in the state of Texas.

The mother of two sons with Jerry Bick, John Dashiell Bick and Andrew Wilson Bick, for whom she took an 11-year hiatus from acting to raise.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 26, a son John R. Bick in April 1961. Child's father is her [now ex] husband, Jerry Bick.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 28, a son Andrew Wilson Bick in December 1962. Child's father is her [now ex] husband, Jerry Bick.

One of the other Best Actress nominees in 1976 was Ann-Margret, who was nominated for her role Tommy (1975). Coincidentally, both that film and the one Fletcher was nominated for/won, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, featured Jack Nicholson.

Was the 77th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) at 48th Annual Academy Awards (1976) on March 29, 1976.

Grandmother of Emille Kaye Bick.

Sister of John (1931-2004), Roberta (b. 1938) and Georgiana Fletcher (b. 1939).

Wore an Alfred Fiandaca gown spotted at Bergdorf Goodman at the 48th Annual Academy Awards (1976).