Richard Eyre: 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.

RE

Richard Eyre

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Edward Bond, the playwright, said I was like a turd flowing on the effluent of British culture.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Cybill Shepherd American actress and former model

A review that said I had the charm of a hamster.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2008 source ↗

As a young actor, again at the Citizens theatre, I was making an exit and a theatregoer leaned over the balcony and said, “You’re terrible!”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 July 2025 source ↗

Miriam Margolyes

Glenda Jackson said I was an amateur during rehearsal for The White Devil at the Old Vic. I called her a cow, but that was inadequate.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 July 2025 source ↗

Felicity Jones British actress

“You’re a reasonably intelligent girl,” by a teacher, and it drove me crazy and made me want to get into Oxford.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 May 2023 source ↗

More from Richard Eyre

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Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

To my father, who was aggressively indifferent to what I was doing. He did say sorry to me when he was dying and I don’t think I was very gracious.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains

Isn’t it enough just to be remembered?

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

Warmth and confidence.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question How would you sum yourself up in three words? Identity & self

Curious, energetic, droll.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

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

In despair, because of my wife’s illness.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

When I was doing a masterclass at a theatre and I had to leave the stage because I was about to shit my pants.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

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Jared Harris, Olly Alexander, Chris Bryant, Bruce Dickinson, Felicity Jones, Paula Wilcox

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