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 →

Sally Lindsay

I constantly forget people’s names when they have literally just told me.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 August 2025 source ↗

Andrew O’Hagan

My first holy communion, where my trousers were too big for me and fell down, a circumstance which earned me both the instant contempt of the girls and the heightened interest of the priests. That’s just how it was in 1975.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

Marcus Mumford

One of the first TV appearances that our band made in America, on the Craig Ferguson show. I forgot the lyrics to Little Lion Man and then broke two strings.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 February 2026 source ↗

Stockard Channing

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 from Pauline McLynn

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

Walking along Oxford Street on Saturday pulling a shopping trolley that my mother bought me. I remember saying, “I’m never going to use that!” and there I was, very grateful to have it in my life. She died before Christmas and I can’t ring her to tell her that she was right.

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