Louise Fletcher, a well-regarded American actress, is best known for her performance as Nurse Ratched in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which earned her an Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, to parents, both of whom were deaf. Louise Fletcher was introduced at a young age by the aunt who taught her to speak. After graduating from the University of North Carolina, she took a trip out west with her roommates, finding herself in Los Angeles without enough money to return home. She took a temporary job as a receptionist and signed up for acting class at night. Soon she was working regularly as an actress, but after marrying and having two sons, she took a long hiatus to raise her children.

Her career began in television, mainly in Westerns. She commented that her height of 5’10” made her unsuitable for many roles, but in Westerns her height was considered an asset.

Her view of being an actress was very practical:

“Even if I don't think something is so great, I still do it. I'm one of those actresses who have to work for a living. I don't have huge savings... I was up for a lot of good parts, but the competition is keen. I think I'm not that easy to cast. Other actresses are associated with different kinds of roles. I'm associated with strong, sort of realistic women.”

This philosophy ensured that she was always working, and in the end it was a good life, doing what she always secretly wanted to do – act. 

Louise Fletcher, forever In Heaven with the Stars.