Anecdotes

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 Vol au-dessus d'un nid de coucou (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 Vol au-dessus d'un nid de coucou (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 Vol au-dessus d'un nid de coucou (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 Tendres passions (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 Il était une fois en Amérique (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 Vol au-dessus d'un nid de coucou (1975)). The others are Claudette Colbert for New York - Miami (1934), Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Vivien Leigh for Autant en emporte le vent (1939), Greer Garson for Madame Miniver (1942), Diane Keaton for Annie Hall (1977), Shirley MacLaine for Tendres passions (1983), Jessica Tandy for Miss Daisy et son chauffeur (1989), Jodie Foster for Le silence des agneaux (1991), Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare et Juliette (1998), Hilary Swank for La fille à un million de dollars (2004) and Frances McDormand for Nomadland (2020).

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.

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

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.

Was the 77th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for Vol au-dessus d'un nid de coucou (1975) at 48th Annual Academy Awards (1976) on March 29, 1976.

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.

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

Grandmother of Emille Kaye Bick.

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