Pauline McLynn: When were you most embarrassed?

The question

When were you most embarrassed?

Originally asked

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

A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.

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

Pauline McLynn

Irish character actress and author

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Eight or nine years ago, I disgraced myself in the Japanese ambassador’s home in Dublin, at a celebration for my late mother-in-law’s book about living in Japan. Afterwards, when I had to apologise, she told me it was the worst night of her life and, because I was drunk enough not to remember the details, it will never not be the most embarrassing night of my life. People are filling in details even now – “Remember when you fell under the table during the first course?”

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 122 →

Frank Cottrell-Boyce British screenwriter, novelist and actor

I once found myself chatting to a big handsome bloke at a party in Oslo. I said, “And what do you do?” “Well,” he said, “I am the king.” Being a great wordsmith, I zinged back, “Oh. Errm. Cool.”

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

Katie Melua

Forty-eight hours after giving birth, I sent a picture that someone had sent me of their baby to a WhatsApp group, thinking it was my son (they kind of looked similar). Mortifying.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 November 2023 source ↗

Indira Varma

Wearing 90s ripped-at-the-crotch jeans at Rada during an unarmed combat session and showing everyone more than they bargained for.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 April 2024 source ↗

Sam Ryder

I once did a record store signing in LA, which I had no business doing. No one was there – just staff. They were getting ready to close the shop and sweeping up.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 August 2023 source ↗