Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Louise Fletcher was introduced to the world of performing at a young age by her aunt, who taught her to speak. This early exposure to the arts was likely influenced by her parents, Robert Fletcher and Estelle, who were both deaf. After graduating from the University of North Carolina, Louise took a trip out west with her roommates, finding herself in Los Angeles without enough money to return home. To make ends meet, she took a temporary job as a receptionist and signed up for acting classes at night. Her hard work and dedication soon paid off, as she began working regularly in television and film.
After marrying producer Jerry Bick and having two sons, Louise took a long hiatus to raise her children. She returned to work in 1974 with a role in Robert Altman's Thieves Like Us. Her impressive performance caught the attention of director Milos Forman, who was casting the difficult role of the nurse in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Louise won the role and went on to portray the iconic and deadly Nurse Ratched, earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her portrayal of Nurse Ratched has since become a cultural icon.
Throughout her career, Louise has appeared in a wide range of films, including science fiction and horror classics such as Firestarter, Brainstorm, and Flowers in the Attic. She has also co-starred with notable actors such as Peter Falk and Richard Burton. In addition to her film work, Louise has had a successful television career, earning an Emmy Award nomination for her recurring role on Picket Fences. She is perhaps best known to recent television audiences for her roles as Kai Winn from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and as Nora Bloom from the cult classic VR.5.
