DS
The first 10 years of my marriage, when my children were small.
Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, July 2012 source ↗
The question
What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
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Others on this question
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Kiefer Sutherland
British and Canadian actor
I consider myself quite a happy person. One of the most exciting times was when Sarah was born.
Mary J Blige
American singer and actress
When I was little kid, before I knew what worrying was about.
Roger Taylor
English musician, songwriter, and record producer
When I first heard one of our records on the radio.
David Baddiel
Comedian and writer
I’ve never been entirely happy, although for about 45 seconds after David Platt scored the winning goal against Belgium in the World Cup in 1990, I kind of blacked out with joy.
More from Danielle Steel
View profile →My agent Mort Janklow, Sidney Poitier, and Barbara Walters.
Not always standing up for myself enough.
Healthy, happy children. A wonderful, loving partner with whom to share my life.
Losing another child. (I lost one of my sons to suicide when he was 19.)
I wish I were braver, although I try. I work too hard and don’t play enough. Too much work ethic, not enough “fun.”
Peacefully, in good physical health, sound of mind, still active, at a great age, with my children around me.
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