Stockard Channing: What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? — FLAPSS

The question

What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

SC

Stockard Channing

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

“Let’s face it, you’re not Ingrid Bergman.” I was 19 and he was a potential boyfriend. My only thought at the time was: “I’m not?”

The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 122 →

Clive Myrie British journalist, newsreader, and presenter

The usual racist shit.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 June 2024 source ↗

I like you but I wish you looked more like David Beckham.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 January 2025 source ↗

Munroe Bergdorf

Apart from stuff on social media, an ex-partner telling me I’m unlovable.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗

Chaka Khan American singer

A friend said, “If you remembered everything you did, you’d kill yourself.” He’s sort of crazy, but he’s probably right.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 May 2024 source ↗

More from Stockard Channing

View profile →

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Climate change.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

Don’t answer every question you’re asked.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

Question What most recently moved you to tears? Identity & self

At the election of Joe Biden, thinking we were out of the woods. Wrong.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

Question As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

A dress designer.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

Not keeping off the last 5lbs.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

Fifteen years ago, I totally forgot my lines on stage and was mortified. We skipped two pages of dialogue and took three minutes off the play – to the delight of the audience!

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

More on failure & regret

Also answered this

Brandi Carlile, Paul McKenna, Adam Kay, Michael Ball, Alison Steadman, Adam Clayton

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

All failure & regret questions
The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject

Report this answer